Even before Coco Gauff stepped onto the Montreal court, sparks were bound to fly in her showdown with Danielle Collins. Still nursing the sting of a shocking Wimbledon first-round exit, the World No. 2 and reigning French Open champion walked in with fire in her eyes. On the other side stood a retiring warrior in Collins, hungry for one last hurrah. The battle raged deep into a deciding tie-break, where Gauff clawed out victory. Then came Kudermetova, another test, another push to the edge, and Gauff survived again. Yet, beneath the triumphs, a storm brews: her second serve, shaky and vulnerable. Now, with Rennae Stubbs stepping in, crucial advice lands as Gauff’s most glaring weakness roars to the surface in Montreal.
As Coco Gauff battles through the Canadian Masters today, the spotlight hasn’t just been on her results; it’s been blazing down on her second serve. Rennae Stubbs, the sharp-witted Aussie and former pro, didn’t shy away from dropping some tough love. After Gauff’s gritty 1st match win against Danielle Collins, Stubbs praised her warrior spirit: “Cocos speed, tenacity and fight wins her so many matches! I know it’s not over but trust me, I think she still wins this…she just never gives up. It’s a true testament to her guts! she doesn’t let the worst effect her best! sign of a champion.” Yet even in that wave of praise, a fan cut through the noise, asking the golden question: “That serve though. How to fix it?” Stubbs, candid as ever, fired back: “Time off and no Asia swing. That’s what I would do.”
But the narrative didn’t stop there. Gauff’s rollercoaster continued as she outlasted Veronika Kudermetova in three tense sets to punch her ticket to the R16. Stubbs returned to X (formerly Twitter) to echo her admiration: “No matter what is happening. Coco never gives up. Never! It wins her so many matches.” Still, the second-serve debate raged on. A curious fan asked about technical fixes, maybe a kick serve, maybe more pace on the first? Stubbs didn’t miss: “Yes. She 100% needs a kick second serve but she’s unable to do that with her grip and her ball toss. Also she gets forward too early as well and her elbow is low. There are many things to tweak.”
(More to come…)
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