Coco Gauff Urged To ‘Just Shut Down’ Her Run As Former Pro Points Out ‘Mental Toll’

Former Australian player Rennae Stubbs recently shared her thoughts on what Coco Gauff should do to address her technical issues on hard courts. Speaking on her podcast, the Aussie suggested that the American should “shut down” her season temporarily and focus on refining her game away from the public eye.

Stubbs’ remarks come amid Gauff’s dip in form since her French Open triumph in June. The American has yet to capture another title and recently saw her China Open defense end in the semifinals.

What Did Rennae Stubbs Say About Coco Gauff Amid Recent Struggles?

Since her French Open victory, Gauff has struggled to regain momentum, delivering results below her usual standards. Her grass-court campaign ended early, with a second-round loss in Berlin followed by a first-round exit at Wimbledon. The American’s fortunes didn’t improve on the North American hard-court swing either, with a quarterfinal finish in Cincinnati marking her best result.

Gauff began her Asian swing on a promising note, returning to Beijing to defend her WTA 1000 crown. The American recorded convincing wins over Kamilla Rakhimova, Leylah Fernandez, Belinda Bencic, and Eva Lys to reach the semifinals. However, she fell short against compatriot and eventual champion Amanda Anisimova, losing in straight sets.

One of Gauff’s biggest challenges this season has been her technique, particularly her serve. In an effort to address it, the American brought on renowned mentor and biomechanics coach Gavin MacMillan into her team.

While Gauff may have her own approach to improvement, former Australian player Rennae Stubbs believes taking a break to focus on her technical flaws could be the right move for the young star.

“Again, that’s the situation right? Is it the right thing to do? I don’t know. Everybody knows, I have said it several times in the pod, I would have shut it down for the season and really try to work on those technical flaws,” she said in the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.

Gauff’s serving woes have been evident this season as she committed 27 double faults at the US Open and won just 38% of her first-serve points against Anisimova in the China Open semifinal. All in all, the two-time Major champion leads the chart for most double faults in 2025.

Stubbs noted that while Gauff adapts well to clay, she struggles on hard courts against opponents who hit flat and hard, which could eventually take a mental toll.

“On hard court you are going to struggle against players who hit the ball that flat and hard. So at some point, Coco is going to be like, It has to start taking a mental toll on you. So that is why I was like ‘just shut it down’ Who cares? Go and practice somewhere, where no one is paying attention and work on those technique flaws,” she added.

How Did Stubbs Compare Gauff’s Current Situation to a Dream?

Later in the podcast, Stubbs emphasized Gauff’s on-court vulnerability, comparing it to a dream. She noted the immense pressure the American faces at Arthur Ashe Stadium, referencing her breakdown during the US Open second-round match against Donna Vekic.

“I am sure everyone had a dream where they have been naked, walking down a hallway or something. They are like, can’t get back into their house. I have had those dreams. And you are just like ‘Ah! What would you do?’ I feel like Coco goes out onto Arthur Ashe Stadium, we saw when she broke down. Imagine having to go out there, you feel literally naked every single time, and you are like, can someone give me some clothes?” She said later.

With her double-fault and technical issues persisting, it remains to be seen how coach MacMillan helps Gauff address them. She needs to turn things around quickly, as she has significant ranking points at stake.

Her next stop is Wuhan, where she must defend 390 points from last year’s semifinal appearance, followed by a daunting 1,500 points at this year’s WTA Finals.