Coco Gauff reminds us of Serena Williams! This time, it’s not just her on-court clothing, but also her exceptional shot-taking abilities at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. The 20-year-old just calmed the Wimbledon demons that saw her eliminated in the first round last year. Gauff delivered a strong effort in her 6-1,6-2 victory over her compatriot Caroline Dolehide. This year has seen some interesting changes in her game; I wonder if it is due to the influence of her coach, Brad Gilbert?
In her most recent match, her increased use of slices was obvious. Gauff admitted this during her post-match interview.”I managed to use the slice well. Slicing is not something I enjoy practicing. My instructor advised me to use it frequently on grass because to the unpredictable nature of the balance. She believes that being aggressive on the grass is vital for one’s game. Gauff prefers to be the first to strike rather than waiting for opportunities presented by her opponents.Is this something Gilbert, her coach, pushed her for on this surface?
Gauff responded to a journalist’s query by stating, “Brad has really emphasized using the forehand like slice when it’s super low, which I did a couple of times today when she sliced.” The 20-year-old American tennis star admits that her backhand is a matter of personal preference and experimentation. She stated she just improvises it and has a plan on when to utilize it or not.
Gauff’s forehand has been the focus of the tennis world for a long time. Most people believe she does not trust that shot as much as her backhands. This is one of her most vulnerable areas, and it regularly costs her in key matches. Former world number 4 Mary Joe Fernandez stated that improving the forehand might be a game changer.
Coco Gauff’s backswing is larger than the average compact ATP style, akin to Serena Williams’ powerful forehand, but her forehand appears to be less consistent. This has spurred debate over why she may not be producing the same amount of power as Serena, while having a similar-looking backswing. One significant difference between Gauff and Serena is their mid-backswing. Coco tilts the racket tip more forward towards her opponent, akin to Naomi Osaka’s strong forehand. In contrast, Serena maintained a straighter racket face throughout the backswing. While their end backswing positions may appear identical, Gauff’s early tilt indicates a distinct strategy to power generation.
Joe Fernandez had even advised her to take six or eight months off to work on that shot. Even Pam Shriver and Rennae Stubbs believe this is an issue that Gauff needs to solve very quickly to rise further in her career. What does her coach Brad Gilbert have to say on this?
During an interview with Andy Roddick on his ‘Served’ podcast, Gilbert confessed that he had received numerous SMS asking him to “fix” Coco Gauff’s forehand. Gilbert recalled those occasions, saying, “It’s too easy to say I want to win x, y, and z. Although everyone does, there are certain aspects of her game that require improvement. I’ve never received so many texts in my life as I did when I started teaching her, and everything is about, ‘Fix your forehand. “Fix your grip.” He stated that sometimes people believe it is simple to fix something like that, while in fact it is much more difficult!
He asked, “What happens if you make a change and it doesn’t get better?” Changing the grip can drastically alter the arc of the swing. He believes there are more things to consider while implementing new ideas or changing one’s own style of play. “Not everyone is as adaptable as Rafa. “Andre was a player who enjoyed constant experimentation, but not all players are like that,” he noted.Please share your comments about Coco Gauff’s previous match.
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