Coco Gauff Reflects on Serve Improvements Ahead of Stuttgart Quarterfinal

The defending Roland Garros champion is looking to build momentum on clay this season.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:54am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a tennis match or competition, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.Coco Gauff's quest to defend her French Open title faces a new challenge on the clay courts of Stuttgart.Today in Miami

Coco Gauff is through to the quarterfinals of the Stuttgart Open, where she will face Karolina Muchova. Gauff spoke about her serve improvements and how she is adapting to the clay court conditions, noting that the surface doesn't necessarily suit her game. The 22-year-old also discussed the influence of Rafael Nadal on her clay court approach, joking that she's a 'Walmart version' of the legendary Spaniard.

Why it matters

As the defending French Open champion, Gauff's performance on clay this season will be closely watched. Her comments provide insight into her mindset and strategy as she looks to build momentum heading into the upcoming major on the surface.

The details

Gauff defeated Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets to reach the Stuttgart quarterfinals. She spoke about the changes she has made to her serve, saying it has been 'better' and has helped her earn 'a lot of free points.' However, she acknowledged still having some double faults that she wants to clean up. Gauff also discussed her approach to the clay, noting that it doesn't necessarily suit her game as well as some other players. She drew comparisons to Rafael Nadal, saying she tries to emulate his forehand but doesn't have the same level of success on the surface.

  • Gauff is the defending champion at the 2026 French Open.

The players

Coco Gauff

A 22-year-old American tennis player who is the defending champion at the 2026 French Open.

Karolina Muchova

A Czech tennis player who will face Gauff in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Stuttgart Open.

Rafael Nadal

A legendary Spanish tennis player who is widely considered the greatest clay court player of all time.

Iga Swiatek

A Polish tennis player who has been working with Rafael Nadal as she prepares for the clay court season.

Francisco Roig

Iga Swiatek's new coach who is working with her alongside Rafael Nadal.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, made some changes and yeah better… Yeah pretty well today thought. Obviously had some moments where there were doubles but could have been — had five really could have been three should have got out of that 4-0 game a bit quicker.”

— Coco Gauff, Tennis Player

“I mean, the greatest clay court player is Rafa, but I don't quite play like him, but I do try to hit my forehand like he does on clay. I don't run around as much because my forehand isn't as good as Rafa's, but I try to hit like him. So I guess it's just me and him. Like a Walmart version of Rafa. Not trying to get roasted online or anything—just a much lesser version.”

— Coco Gauff, Tennis Player

What’s next

Gauff will face Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Stuttgart Open, with the winner advancing to the semifinals.

The takeaway

Coco Gauff's comments highlight her ongoing efforts to improve her serve and adapt her game to the clay court surface, as she looks to build momentum heading into the French Open defense. While she acknowledges the clay may not be her strongest surface, her drive to emulate the success of clay court legend Rafael Nadal shows her determination to succeed on the surface.