Coco Gauff walked a tightrope throughout the 2025 season. On one hand, she lifted the French Open trophy and defended her nation’s pride. On the other hand, she battled a serving motion that seemed to abandon her at the worst moments.
Now, a former American pro is shedding light on exactly why those technical demons have persisted for so long.
What Did Alexandra Stevenson Say About Coco Gauff’s Serve?
The numbers tell a brutal story regarding Gauff’s service game. She racked up over 430 double faults in 2025, marking the highest total of her young career. Between the serving woes and a shaky forehand, the scrutiny from the tennis world became impossible to ignore. To stop the bleeding before the 2025 US Open, she hired biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan, known for his work with Aryna Sabalenka.
Recently, former player Alexandra Stevenson hopped on The Inside-In Tennis Podcast to discuss this move. She viewed the collaboration as overdue, noting that while Gauff is an incredible athlete, the technical flaws in her motion required expert intervention.
“It’s been a long time coming; that’s kind of been the number one thing I’ve seen. I don’t understand why she should be able to fix it; she’s such a good athlete, but technically, there are issues within the motion, and hopefully, this guy is fixing it,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson believes the World No. 3 needs to work on her serve and forehand simultaneously because the mechanics of each feed into the other. While she hasn’t watched Gauff’s practice sessions intimately, the technical breakdown is visible to the trained eye.
“I haven’t seen her practices, but technically, there’s like three things that she should be able to fix right away. In practice, that doesn’t mean under pressure. The serve and forehand go together, so the forehand was first, but it should have been the serve fixed first, I think,” she added.
Can Team USA Defend Their United Cup Title in 2026?
Despite the mechanical struggles, Gauff’s 2025 resume remained stellar. She captured four titles, including the French Open, the Wuhan Open, and a doubles victory at the Canadian Open. She also helped lead the United States to glory at the 2025 United Cup.
Now, the focus shifts to running it back. Gauff will start her 2026 campaign representing the U.S. at the United Cup from Jan. 2 to Jan. 11 in Australia. The matches are set for the RAC Arena in Perth and the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
Team USA enters as the defending champion, having defeated Poland earlier this year. They are placed in Group A alongside Spain and Argentina. The American squad is stacked, featuring Taylor Fritz, Christian Harrison, Nicole Melichar-Martinez, Varvara Lepchenko, and Mackenzie McDonald, all led by captain Michael Russell.
