Coco Gauff Battles Through Tears and Serving Struggles at US Open
You know that feeling when you’re watching your favorite team blow a lead, and your stomach starts doing gymnastics routines? That is exactly what Coco Gauff fans experienced Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 21-year-old American was wiping away tears between points, her serve looking shakier than a leaf in a hurricane, yet somehow she managed to gut out a 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory over Croatia’s Donna Vekic.
When Champions Show Their Human Side
There’s something both heartbreaking and inspiring about watching Gauff battle through visible emotion on tennis’s biggest stage. The two-time Grand Slam champion wasn’t just fighting Vekic. She was wrestling with her own demons, those pesky serving yips that have been haunting her game like a bad horror movie sequel.
“Honestly, today was a tough match for me. But I’m just happy with how I was able to manage. It’s been rough couple weeks,” Gauff said during her on-court interview, her voice cracking as tears began to flow. Those weren’t crocodile tears, folks. This was raw, unfiltered emotion from someone who carries the weight of expectations.
The Serve That Keeps Tennis Fans Up at Night
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, or should I say, the double fault in the service box. Gauff’s serving troubles aren’t exactly breaking news at this point. She’s racked up over 300 double faults this season, leading the tour in a category no player wants to dominate. During the first set against Vekic, she double-faulted seven times and lost four of her six service games. Think about that for a second. The woman who won this very tournament two years ago was getting broken more often than a New Year’s resolution in February.
The MacMillan Effect: Work in Progress
Enter Gavin MacMillan, the biomechanics wizard who helped transform world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka’s serve from liability to weapon. Gauff brought him on board just before this tournament, hoping for some quick fixes. This is like trying to rebuild an engine while the car’s still running down the interstate. The first set looked like a demolition derby. Gauff would lose serve, then immediately break back. Vekic would edge ahead, then hand the advantage right back. It was tennis at its most chaotic and compelling.
The Locker Room Reset
Sometimes the best coaching happens away from the cameras. After that wild first set, Gauff disappeared into the locker room to splash water on her face and find her center. Whatever she told herself in that mirror worked like magic.
The second set was a completely different movie. Just one double fault the rest of the way. Zero service breaks allowed. Four service games, four holds. Game, set, match.
Star Power In the Stands
Having Simone Biles courtside didn’t hurt either. Gauff mentioned being inspired by seeing the gymnastics GOAT in attendance. There’s something to be said for having legends supporting legends. It is like a superhero team-up, but with more athletic achievement and fewer capes.
The Road Ahead For Gauff
Gauff’s path forward isn’t going to get easier. She’s carrying the burden of being America’s tennis darling while simultaneously trying to rebuild the most important shot in her arsenal. It is like trying to change your golf swing during the Masters. Technically possible, but guaranteed to cause some sleepless nights.
The good news? Champions aren’t made in the smooth sailing moments. They are forged in nights like Thursday, when everything feels like it’s falling apart, but you find a way to piece it back together. Gauff showed the heart of a fighter, the resilience of a champion, and just enough tennis wizardry to advance to round three.
