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Coco Gauff's Serve Struggles Spark Debate Among Former Pros
John Isner and Steve Johnson weigh in on whether the World No. 4 is truly "struggling" after her Dubai semifinal exit.
Feb. 24, 2026 at 6:06am
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Coco Gauff's run to the semifinals at the 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships sparked debate, with former American pros John Isner and Steve Johnson pushing back on claims that the World No. 4 is 'struggling,' even as they acknowledged the visible frustration that boiled over during her loss to Elina Svitolina.
Why it matters
Gauff's serve has come under scrutiny, with the 18-year-old American striking a high number of double faults throughout the Dubai tournament. Her on-court outburst towards her coach has also raised concerns about her mental state and ability to handle the pressures of elite-level tennis.
The details
Gauff received a first-round bye in Dubai and opened with a steady 6-4, 6-4 win over Anna Kalinskaya. However, her serve issues became more pronounced in her third-round match against Elise Mertens, where she saved three match points but struck 16 double faults and committed 63 unforced errors. She rebounded in the quarterfinals, dispatching Alexandra Eala 6-0, 6-2, but the semifinal against Svitolina stretched to nearly three hours, with the Ukrainian ultimately winning 6-4, 6-7 (13), 6-4. Gauff struck 12 double faults in that match, triggering a visible outburst directed at her coaching box.
- Gauff is set to compete next at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, scheduled for Mar. 4-15.
The players
Coco Gauff
An 18-year-old American tennis player currently ranked World No. 4.
Elina Svitolina
A 31-year-old Ukrainian tennis player who defeated Gauff in the Dubai semifinals.
John Isner
A former American professional tennis player who discussed Gauff's performance on the 'Nothing Major' podcast.
Steve Johnson
A former American professional tennis player who discussed Gauff's performance on the 'Nothing Major' podcast.
Gavin MacMillan
Gauff's biomechanics coach, hired in August 2025 to help reshape her service motion and stabilize her forehand.
What they’re saying
“It was a good result, but she struggled in the semifinal again and was having issues with her serve. So, yes, obviously we know she just needs to shore up that one part of her game because the rest of her game is just ridiculously rock solid.”
— John Isner, Former American Professional Tennis Player
“In the middle of the match, it looked like she was saying, 'I've done everything you've asked, and I'm still serving like this,' something along those lines. That's not what you want to be saying.”
— Steve Johnson, Former American Professional Tennis Player
What’s next
Gauff is set to compete next at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, scheduled for Mar. 4-15.
The takeaway
Gauff's serve struggles in Dubai have raised concerns about her mental state and ability to handle the pressures of elite-level tennis, but former pros Isner and Johnson believe she is still trending in the right direction and that the issues are not as severe as some have suggested.
