s the WTA Finals draw near, all eyes are on Coco Gauff, the young sensation whose breakout year has set the tennis world abuzz. Following a challenging loss to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Gauff has regrouped and re-strategized, guided by crucial advice from none other than Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams’ former coach. The question on everyone’s mind: can Gauff overcome her past serving woes to clinch the title?
In her latest episode of The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Stubbs broke down the key to Gauff’s success: serve control. According to Stubbs, if Gauff keeps her double faults under six per match, she has what it takes to dominate the Finals. Stubbs emphasized, “If she serves less than six double faults in her matches, no matter what match she plays, she will win the tournament.”
This simple yet powerful mantra could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Stubbs, a seasoned tennis mind with years of experience coaching Williams, has seen how unforced errors can turn even the fiercest serves into a player’s Achilles’ heel.
A dangerous weapon
Despite Stubbs’ optimism, she acknowledged the double-edged nature of Gauff’s serve. “Her serve is as big as anybody’s on tour,” Stubbs remarked, but quickly added the importance of consistency. Reflecting on her own career struggles, Stubbs explained how a focus on acing first serves could lead to costly mistakes – a challenge that Gauff also faces, especially against top players like Sabalenka. In her last match against Sabalenka, Gauff’s 21 double faults proved disastrous, highlighting just how crucial Stubbs’ advice might be.
Gauff’s journey at the WTA Finals won’t be easy. Drawn into the Orange Group, she’ll face Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, and Barbora Krejcikova. Analysts are laser-focused on how she’ll fare against Swiatek, who recently took a break to regroup and resolve coaching issues. Gauff has also shared her own thoughts on entering this prestigious tournament with a refreshed mindset, saying, “I’m looking at dresses. They have a lot of things planned for us. I’m super excited.”
A star-studded roster sets the stage for high drama
As the competition heats up, other stars like Aryna Sabalenka, who currently holds the No. 1 rank, and former No. 1 Iga Swiatek are also vying for glory. Alongside them is Elena Rybakina, eager to make a statement after a stellar comeback from the US Open. With the field stacked and the stakes higher than ever, the Finals in Riyadh are set to be a thrilling test of both mental and physical endurance.
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