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Sports
Coco Gauffâs double faults raise fresh coaching questions
TL;DR
Coco Gauff struggled with double faults in her opening match in Rome, leading to questions about her coaching. Despite being ahead 5-3, she faltered against Tereza Valentova.
Key points
- Coco Gauff double-faulted in her opening match in Rome
- She was leading 5-3 when the errors occurred
- Commentator Liam Broady criticized her reaction to the mistakes
Coco GauffTereza Valentova
Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Coco Gauffâs double-fault troubles showed up again in her opening match in Rome.
The two-time Grand Slam champion was up 5-3 when she double-faulted early in the second set against Tereza Valentova.
Commentating for Sky Sports, Liam Broady explained why he didnât like how Gauff reacted to the mistake.
Liam Broady concerned by Coco Gauffâs reaction to serving mistakes
Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images
âI donât like that self-talk, I have to say,â said Broady.
âYou always do this; itâs a self-fulfilling prophecy.
âYou have done this, you donât always do it.
âYouâve got to stay strong; the second you give in to those inner voices, itâs big, big trouble.â
Gauff has had long-standing difficulties with her serve and hit a tipping point in 2025.
She turned to Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics specialist, just before the US Open in an attempt to address the issue. Progress was gradual, but there were signs of improvement at first.
But then came another rough patch during the Middle Eastern swing. After double-faulting again during her semi-final loss to Elina Svitolina in Dubai, Gauff voiced her frustration directly at MacMillan: âIâve been doing everything youâve wanted for the last six months, and itâs not getting any better.â
The pair didnât split after those comments and seem committed for now. But with no clear resolution in sight, questions remain about whether a change is needed.
Should Coco Gauff and Gavin MacMillan call time on their partnership?
Five months into the 2026 season, Gauff has reached just one WTA final, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in Miami.
Those results have seen her drop to eighth in the âLive WTA Raceâ, putting her place at the year-end finals at risk.
While itâs not all down to MacMillan or her serve, the numbers havenât improved as hoped.
No player on tour has hit more double faults this year than Gauff.
Considering fixing that was a key reason for hiring MacMillan, thereâs a growing argument for trying a new approach.
Wim Fissette is among the top coaches currently available. He guided Iga Swiatek to a Wimbledon title just last season.
Whether Gauff decides to make that switch remains to be seen, but itâs something that could come into focus as the season goes on.
Gauff battles through to third round in Rome
Gauff didnât have it all her own way in the second round, but still managed to come through with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Valentova.
Both players had issues on serve, but Gauff did enough to move into the third round.
Gauffâs next opponent will be either Solana Sierra or Anhelina Kalinina.
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Q&A
What happened to Coco Gauff in her opening match in Rome?
Coco Gauff faced double faults during her match, particularly after leading 5-3 against Tereza Valentova.
Why are Coco Gauff's double faults raising coaching questions?
Her repeated double faults have led commentators to critique her reactions and overall performance, prompting discussions about her coaching strategies.
Who commented on Coco Gauff's performance during the match?
Liam Broady provided commentary for Sky Sports, expressing his concerns about Gauff's reaction to her mistakes.
