Future Superstar: Serena’s Ex-Mentor Says Coco Gauff Just One Step Away from Greatness

Rick Macci believes the young American has the tools to dominate women’s tennis, but insists her serve remains the key to unlocking her full potential

Coco Gauff has already achieved incredible success at just 21 years old, winning two Grand Slam titles and reaching World No. 3 in the rankings

Yet, despite her rapid rise, the American star is still being told that one major weakness could prevent her from claiming the top spot in women’s tennis.

The criticism came into sharper focus after her 2025 US Open round of 16 defeat to Naomi Osaka, where Jack Sock didn’t mince words.

“Honestly, it’s been a bit of a struggle,” the former American tennis star admitted. He added bluntly: “She’s got to find that serve.”

And now, perhaps most notably, former Serena Williams coach Rick Macci has weighed in. Macci, who famously worked with the 23-time Grand Slam champion during her early years, believes Gauff is destined for greatness if she fixes one crucial area of her game.

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Sharing his perspective on X, Macci wrote: “Because Coco fights and can fly, she never says good bye. Her serve will become her best shot and she contend again for the number one spot. If she is reprogramed with the more compact explosive ATP FOREHAND, the Delray Dart will be number one in the land. @CocoGauff.”

A flaw Gauff is determined to fix

Earlier this year, she parted ways with longtime coach Matt Daly and sought the expertise of biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan and coach Jean-Christophe Faurel, both credited with helping Aryna Sabalenka fix similar issues in her game.

“I’m not gonna waste my time playing the way I don’t wanna play,” Gauff explained when addressing the coaching change.

Her struggles have not gone unnoticed. Former doubles great Rennae Stubbs criticized the lack of progress on her serve, saying on her podcast: “But my God, like her serve, I don’t understand why now she has literally two coaches. Nothing has changed on her serve… like the ball toss is so far ahead of her on the second serve.”

The numbers tell the story. Gauff has already racked up more than 320 double faults this season, something she openly admits must change.

“I know I probably won’t be ever double fault-free, but if I could get that to 2 per cent, 3 per cent, it would make a big difference in just making these matches a lot easier,” she acknowledged.

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Despite the ongoing scrutiny, many in the tennis world believe Gauff‘s best days are still ahead.

Former American pro Steve Johnson recently explained on the Nothing Major Podcast how her inconsistent serve affects the rest of her game: “When a player struggles to serve consistently, as Gauff has, it places added pressure on other areas like the forehand, backhand, and movement, eventually leading to a breakdown on court.”

Still, Johnson emphasized that she has plenty of time to make the necessary adjustments. “She’s going to figure it out. She won a slam this year, she’s still three in the world-lots of time left for her,” he said.

As for Gauff herself, she has made it clear that self-improvement is part of her identity. “For me, I just wanna get better. I’m obsessed with the process of getting better,” she said before the US Open. While she admitted that obsession can sometimes feel overwhelming, she insisted it gives her clarity about her goals.

If Macci‘s prediction holds true, then addressing her serving woes may not only help Gauff solidify her status among the elite but also pave the way for her to fulfill her destiny as the world’s best player.

‘I’m a human’ Gauff Fires Off Response to Critics Targeting Her Glam Court Presence at US Open

When it comes to Grand Slam tournaments, American tennis star Coco Gauff doesn’t mess around with her look.

The U.S. Open is the calendar finale of the Grand Slams each year, and she said that she’s planned her outfits for tournaments like this in advance.

As some questioned why she gets all glammed up – having her hair and nails done for the tournament, along with coordinated outfits – Gauff defended the choice.

As the saying goes: “Look good, play good.”

“I don’t know why it’s such a big deal what women choose to do with their on-court or off-court looks,” Gauff said in a Vogue Beauty Secrets video.

“I’m like, ‘I’m a human. Tennis is what I do, but it’s not who I am. And I like to express my way just like any other person likes to express themselves.’”

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Coco Gauff added that it’s “very rare” she has all three areas of her look planned – hair, nails and outfit – but she has focused on that just as much as preparing for her opponents.

“For me, that’s just showing up on court being the best version of myself. But I definitely think if women want to do that, they should be celebrated and not persecuted for it,” Gauff said.

Gauff, who is ranked third in women’s singles at the U.S. Open, won her first two matches to move on to the third round this Saturday against No. 28 Magdalena Fręch.

During her second-round match against Croatian Donna Vekić, which ended in a straight-sets victory for Gauff, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, she sported a red New Balance top with a red band around her waist, accompanied by a white skirt. She also had on a maroon headband and arm band during the match.

It was the same look she had in her first-round match against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic.

Gauff is hoping she can show off her style with another U.S. Open win, having collected the women’s singles title in 2023. She also won the French Open this year – another Grand Slam on the schedule.

Emotional: Tearful US Open legend Chris Evert ‘feels like Coco Gauff’ after emotional 50-year anniversary tribute

The tears have been flowing in Flushing Meadows at this year’s US Open, and it’s not just Coco Gauff. Another former champion, current announcer Chris Evert, wept on Monday as ESPN celebrated the 50th anniversary of her first US Open title — a three-set victory over Australia’s Evonne Goolagong at the tournament’s former venue in Forrest Hills, Queens.

But after watching video footage of Billie Jean King, Patrick McEnroe and others fawning over her illustrious career, as well as her 1975 win over Goolagong, Evert couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.

‘I feel like Coco Gauff right now,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry.’

Now one year older than Evert was when she won her first open a half century ago, Gauff has had an emotional run at this year’s tournament, which ended with Monday’s two-set loss to Japan’s Naomi Osaka. The third-seeded women’s player and 2023 champion has been retooling her serve, and amid that frustration, she wept both during and after her second-round win over Donna Vekic.

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Not everyone was happy about the announcer’s joke, including one X user who wrote: ‘espn did a whole tribute to chris evert and at the end the first thing she did was take a shot at coco gauff.’

Aside from the joke, the moment was an emotional one for Evert, who announced in 2023 that she is once again battling ovarian cancer. She was previously cured of the disease in 2022 years after it claimed the life of her sister, Jeanne.

‘She’s one of my favorite all the human beings,’ King said of Evert in the video tribute.

‘There was something extremely relatable,’ added rival Martina Navratilova. ‘She brought new fans to the game and made little girls and boys think “Oh, I think I can do this. I can follow in those footsteps.”‘

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Back on set, John McEnroe couldn’t help but add some levity to the moment.

‘The attention you brought to the sport however made me want to be a tennis player and thankfully I became one,’ he told Evert. ‘And finally, like millions of other young boys I wanted to marry you, I admit it.’

Of course, it was McEnroe’s rival Jimmy Connors who won Evert’s heart. The two became engaged, although the marriage was quickly called off and the two tennis legends went their separate ways.

‘Then you got engaged to Jimmy Connors,’ McEnroe continued as his co-hosts laughed. ‘I hated that. If I ever play that guy, going to beat his ass. Chrissie, I love you, congrats. Glad I can call you a friend.