Coco Gauff’s journey through the tennis world has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by a blend of raw talent, relentless determination, and an evolving style of play that keeps opponents guessing. One of the most intriguing aspects of her game is her serve—an element both praised for its power and scrutinized for its inconsistency. In 2025, Gauff’s serve became a talking point because, despite leading the WTA Tour in double faults, she still managed to claim titles and dominate matches. This paradox raises an interesting question: how can a player with such a flawed serve continue to excel so spectacularly?

Gauff’s serve is a fascinating study in contrasts. She possesses the ability to generate serves exceeding speeds of 120 km/h (approximately 75 mph), a respectable pace on the women’s circuit that can unsettle opponents and provide her with free points. When her serve is on, it can set the tone early in the rally, enabling her to dictate play and stay aggressive. However, her high double fault count—405 in 2025 alone—reflects a glaring inconsistency. This figure is particularly startling when you consider that the player closest to her in that statistic had 125 fewer double faults. Such a disparity naturally invites scrutiny and concern from coaches, analysts, and fans alike.

Historically, double faults have been a double-edged sword in tennis. The pressure to serve aces and end points quickly has often led players to take high risks with their serves, sometimes resulting in costly mistakes. Players through the decades, like Serena Williams and Venus Williams, have exhibited powerful but occasionally erratic serves early in their careers, which they gradually refined with experience. Coco Gauff appears to be on a similar trajectory: a youthful dynamo capable of enormous power but still mastering the precision and consistency required at the highest level of the sport.

What makes Gauff’s continued success despite her serve woes even more remarkable is her exceptional strength in other key areas of the game. Her forehand is arguably one of the most formidable weapons on the WTA Tour today. Powered by solid technique and athleticism, her forehand lets her hit winners from virtually anywhere on the court, turning defense into offense with ease. This shot helps offset the risks she takes on serve by allowing her to control rallies once the ball is in play.

Equally impressive is her return game, placing her among the elite on the tour in percentage of points won on return. This skill means that even when her serve falters, Gauff can break back quickly by consistently putting pressure on her opponent’s serve. In professional tennis, the ability to turn defense into offense and capitalize on break points defines the great players—and Gauff has exhibited this capability repeatedly. Her return game harkens back to the aggressive baseline style popularized by players like Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova, who combined strong groundstrokes with excellent court positioning.

Perhaps most crucially, Gauff’s mental resilience distinguishes her from many peers. Since bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old prodigy at Wimbledon in 2019—where she famously defeated Venus Williams—her composure under pressure has grown steadily. She has developed a reputation for never giving up, battling through tough moments and finding ways to win even when her serve or other shots fail her. This strength of character echoes the mental toughness demonstrated by legends like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, who also faced early career challenges but matured into champions through grit and perseverance.

At only 20 years old, Gauff’s impact on the sport already surpasses what many achieve in decades. Her blend of power, agility, and tenacity reminds tennis fans of past youthful stars like Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport, who similarly combined raw talent with fierce competitiveness. Additionally, her off-court maturity—articulated through advocacy for social justice and a balanced approach to mental health—cements her status as a role model for a new generation of athletes.

Coco Gauff’s serve will likely remain a work in progress. The serve is often considered the most technically complex stroke in tennis, requiring precise timing, rhythm, and mental calm. For young players, fluctuations in form and confidence are natural as they adjust to the spotlight and physical demands of the professional tour. The history of tennis is filled with players who struggled with their serve early on—Martina Hingis, for example, faced serve issues but compensated with superior strategy and shot-making. It’s reasonable to expect that Gauff’s serve will continue to improve as she gains experience and refines her technique.

Her story offers a powerful reminder that tennis is about much more than any single flaw or weakness. While the serve is undeniably important, it’s the full combination of skills, physicality, and mental toughness that defines champions. Coco Gauff’s unique blend of athletic gifts and perseverance makes her one of the most exciting prospects in the sport, promising continued growth and thrilling matches ahead.

As she aims to defend titles and climb further up the rankings, the tennis world will be watching not just her serve, but how she harnesses all her weapons to maintain her place among the elite. If the past is any indicator, Gauff will not only overcome her serve difficulties but use them as a stepping stone toward greatness. Her journey is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: Coco Gauff’s tennis is a captivating mix of brilliance and resilience, captivating fans and inspiring future generations.