Coco Gauff’s rise in the tennis world has been nothing short of meteoric. Bursting into the spotlight as a teenager with powerful groundstrokes and an aggressive playing style, she quickly grabbed the attention of fans and critics alike. However, like all young athletes, her journey has not been without challenges. One particular area of concern for Gauff recently has been her serve, as she recorded a staggering 405 double faults in the current season alone. This has naturally raised eyebrows and led to discussions on how she might address this glaring weakness.

Yet, amidst this scrutiny, Gauff has an unlikely source of encouragement in Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning world number one. Sabalenka’s own struggle with serving troubles, especially double faults, is well documented. In 2022, she committed an astonishing 428 double faults in just 55 matches, a figure that raised many questions about her ability to manage pressure moments on serve. Sabalenka’s vulnerability was very public, and it was clear that her game had a glaring flaw that opponents could exploit.

What’s fascinating is that Sabalenka’s journey is a testament to the resilience and evolution required at the highest level of the sport. Rather than being defined or derailed by her serve’s inconsistency, she dedicated herself to overcoming it. Her relentless work on serve mechanics and mental strategy eventually paid off, culminating in her victory at her first Grand Slam title the very next season, along with several additional trophies. This comeback story highlights a crucial aspect of professional tennis: flaws can be corrected, and weaknesses can be turned into strengths, provided the player is willing to invest the effort and maintain a disciplined mindset.

Historically, tennis is filled with examples of players who experienced significant struggles early in their careers, only to mature into champions. Take, for instance, Serena Williams, who battled injuries and self-doubt during parts of her early career but fought through to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles. Similarly, Andre Agassi’s career had its peaks and valleys, but through meticulous adjustments and immense perseverance, he secured a place among the game’s legends. Even Novak Djokovic was once criticized for his serve, which he gradually improved to become one of the most complete players in history. These stories remind us that the path to greatness is rarely smooth.

Gauff’s current battle with her serve echoes these narratives. At just 19 years old, she still has plenty of time to develop and refine the elements of her game that need work. Tennis analyst Tracy Austin recently pointed out that pinpointing an immediate fix for Gauff’s serve inconsistency isn’t straightforward, but that shouldn’t be viewed as a setback. Youth and determination are on Gauff’s side, and as legendary American player Andy Roddick suggests, she will “iron out the inconsistencies” through experience and hard work. Learning to manage nerves, adjusting technique, and gaining match experience under pressure are part and parcel of a young player’s growth.

Looking at Sabalenka’s improvements over the past couple of years offers a roadmap. In the season following her difficult 2022 campaign, she significantly reduced her double faults, dropping to just 154 in 70 matches—an impressive turnaround indicating enhanced confidence and technical progress on serve. This improvement was no coincidence; it was the result of unwavering commitment, physical conditioning, and mental coaching. Sabalenka’s story shows that serve troubles, even when severe, are not insurmountable.

The WTA Finals in Riyadh present an important opportunity for Gauff to test her serve under pressure and work on consistency against the world’s best. Sabalenka’s candid advice to her younger counterpart is simple: resilience and grit outweigh the immediate results. Every elite player endures tough stretches, but only those who refuse to give in to frustration can transform their game. This message resonates beyond tennis — it applies to any pursuit demanding persistence in the face of obstacles.

Moreover, professional tennis involves risks and rewards. Playing it safe rarely brings glory. The sport demands players to take calculated chances, especially on serve, where aggression can yield easy points or occasional costly errors. Sabalenka’s aggressive serve-and-ground game, though prone to double faults, also pressured opponents and played a major role in her success. Gauff’s challenge, then, is to maintain her fearless approach while improving serving accuracy.

In tennis history, serve inconsistencies have ended many promising careers, but they have also catalyzed some of the sport’s fiercest comebacks. For example, Richard Krajicek, who won Wimbledon in 1996, initially struggled with serve reliability but famously transformed it into a weapon to conquer grass courts. Similarly, Martina Hingis, known more for finesse than power, worked extensively on her serve to compete in an era of power hitters. These precedents show that technical flaws can evolve into strategic advantages.

In conclusion, Coco Gauff’s recent difficulties with her serve are not cause for alarm but rather an expected phase in a young player’s development. By drawing inspiration from Aryna Sabalenka’s remarkable turnaround and the historical patterns of tennis veterans, she has a blueprint for overcoming adversity. Gauff’s journey will likely be marked by continued growth as she balances the raw talent with improved consistency, mental fortitude, and tactical refinement. If she embraces the hard work ahead with the same determination that made her a teenage sensation, the serve woes may one day be remembered as a minor stumbling block rather than a career-defining issue.

As Aryna Sabalenka’s story reminds us: in tennis, as in life, success often comes not from avoiding faults but from learning how to recover, adapt, and fight harder. For Gauff, the next chapters of her career will reveal how she channels her youthful energy and passion into mastering one of the game’s most vital skills, setting herself up for a future filled with promise and achievement.