Coco Gauff's Serve Struggles Spark Tense Outburst in Dubai

Reigning French Open champion's double fault issues persist despite coaching changes, raising concerns ahead of key events.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Coco Gauff, the American tennis star, openly expressed frustration over her serving difficulties during her semifinal loss to Elina Svitolina at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Despite efforts to address the problem, including hiring a biomechanics specialist, Gauff's serve struggles have persisted, impacting her performance on the WTA circuit.

Why it matters

Gauff's serving woes have become a significant concern, as double faults have plagued her throughout the season. These issues have prompted strategic changes, including a coaching shift, but the lack of immediate improvement has created tension and raised questions about her prospects in upcoming tournaments.

The details

Gauff accumulated 55 double faults across ten matches prior to Dubai, with 12 coming in the semifinal against Svitolina. Her frustration boiled over during the match, as she angrily struck her head with her racket and vocally expressed her exasperation to her coach, Gavin MacMillan, about the lack of progress in addressing the serving problems.

  • Gauff made a strategic coaching change by hiring biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan shortly before the 2025 US Open.
  • Gauff had already logged 55 double faults in ten matches before the Dubai tournament.
  • Gauff recorded 12 double faults in the Dubai semifinal loss to Svitolina.

The players

Coco Gauff

A 21-year-old American tennis star and the reigning French Open champion, who has been struggling with serve inconsistency and double faults throughout the season.

Elina Svitolina

A Ukrainian tennis player who defeated Gauff in the Dubai Open semifinal, extending her head-to-head record against Gauff to 3-2.

Gavin MacMillan

A biomechanics specialist hired by Gauff before the 2025 US Open to help address her serving issues.

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What they’re saying

“I've been doing everything you've wanted for the last 6 months...”

— Coco Gauff (The Tennis Letter)

What’s next

With the Sunshine Doubles in March on the horizon, the need for a solution to Gauff's serving issues is urgent, yet it remains unclear whether further coaching adjustments will follow.

The takeaway

Gauff's ongoing serving struggles, despite coaching changes and technical adjustments, highlight the complexity and patience often required in overcoming serve-related issues at the highest level of tennis. Her visible frustration and reduced doubles play underscore the pressure faced by top players trying to balance technical improvements with competitive demands.