Coco Gauff Conquers Self‑Inflicted Serve Woes for First Win Since French Open
Coco Gauff’s path following her triumphant victory at the 2025 French Open was far from smooth. The American superstar, buoyed by her second Grand Slam title on clay, found herself wrestling with drooping form, especially on second serve — culminating in a marathon of double faults at the Canadian Open. Yet she emerged victorious in her first match since Paris, greeting the win–but not without an alarming 23 double faults — a troubling stat that underscored both her rocky slump and her unbreakable resilience.
A shaky return: Post‑French Open struggles
After capturing the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen with a gritty comeback over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on June 7, Gauff entered her next tournaments with sky-high expectations — and a serve that immediately betrayed her. Observers noted she tallied 33 double faults and just six aces over her six matches during the Roland Garros fortnight. Despite the volume of service errors, she remained composed, capitalizing on Sabalenka’s 70 unforced errors to power through the final.
But following the French Open, the serve woes intensified. In tournaments like Rome and Madrid, Gauff racked up 15–42 double faults across just a handful of matches, raising concerns among analysts and fans alike about her serve’s reliability under pressure
The Canadian Open thriller: 23 double faults, first win in weeks
On July 30, at the Canadian Open in Montreal, top seed and reigning French Open champion Gauff took on Danielle Collins in a gruelling three-set battle lasting nearly three hours. She eventually prevailed 7‑5, 4‑6, 7‑6 (2), saving match points and clawing back from multiple critical moments
Yet the scoreboard told just one story: Gauff committed a staggering 23 double faults, the most in any WTA‑1000 match this year. She also amassed 74 unforced errors, painting a portrait of a player overshadowed by self‑inflicted sloppiness
Mental grit in focus: Why victory still mattered
This was Gauff’s first win since the French Open title run, after a disappointing early Wimbledon exit and sub-par showings in warm-ups. Despite the serve disasters, she demonstrated her trademark resilience: fighting off two match points and staying alive through a tense third-set tiebreak. The mental toughness she showed was remarkable — especially confronting those serve demons time and again.
Gauff candidly admitted post-match that while the performance was far from her best, the victory was essential: “It’s not how pretty it was, but it was the fight I needed,” she said, acknowledging the errors but celebrating the win.
Serve woes and technical reflections: What analysts say
Service inconsistency has followed Gauff throughout 2025, especially on the second serve. Tennis authorities frequently point out her technical issue: an erratic toss and lacking fluid rhythm, particularly under pressure, leading to catastrophically high double-fault counts.
One forum post courted headlines:
“Her serve can let her down … she tends to double fault in tense moments or when trailing. So that’s a part of her game that can be improved.”
Another technical analysis mused: “If all her second serves found the box, she’d be arguably the best server on tour, given her return strength.” In theory, trimming her double faults even modestly would elevate her serve‑points‑won rate to world-beating levels.
Turning the corner: Why first win matters
Despite the flawed performance, that win in Montreal marks an important narrative pivot:
- Confidence builder: After several discouraging results, that personal battle reinforces Gauff’s ability to win ugly when needed.
- Serve reset opportunity: While the match was marred by double-faults, finding ways to close under pressure shows promise—especially if technical work follows.
- Mental affirmation: Saving match points and thriving in the tiebreak underline an internal fire that reporters and fans have celebrated since her teenage breakthrough at the 2019 U.S. Open.
What’s next for Gauff?
Her immediate path takes her deeper into the Canadian Open draw. With Sabalenka, Alcaraz, Djokovic and Sinner notably absent or withdrawing, the field is more open than ever for Gauff to rebuild with match momentum.
Longer term, the looming goal is Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. To compete for titles on grass and hard courts, Gauff must find consistency in her serve. Stripping away even 30–50 percent of her double faults would dramatically shift her serve‑points‑won, making her a more formidable offensive threat—not just a defensive warrior.
Conclusion: A flawed win, but a career‑defining attitude
Coco Gauff’s Montreal breakthrough — her first victory since capturing the 2025 French Open title — may have been messy, marred by 23 double faults and 74 unforced errors, but the win will be remembered for what it revealed: fearless tenacity, inner belief, and fierce competitiveness.
She didn’t serve particularly well. She didn’t play pretty. But she won. And for a champion rebuilding her rhythm and confidence, that grit-first mentality might just be exactly what propels her toward more titles in the second half of the season.
Key match stats recap
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Double Faults | 23 |
| Unforced Errors | 74 |
| Match Duration | ~3 hours |
| Score | 7–5, 4–6, 7–6 (2) |
| Opponent | Danielle Collins (US) |
| Significance | First match win since 2025 French Open title |
Coco Gauff’s journey since Paris may have taken a few unexpected dips, but in Montreal she sent a clear message: she still possesses the heart of a champion—even when her serve files don’t.
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