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Gauff vents at coach after Dubai loss: 'Gotten not better at all, bro'

Coco Gauff suffered a dramatic three-set defeat to Elina Svitolina in the Dubai semifinals, a match marred by her serving struggles. The American star was heard venting her frustration at her coaching team, specifically targeting the work on her serve. Despite saving four match points to force a deciding set, Gauff's double faults proved costly in the end. Svitolina advanced to her first Dubai final in nearly ten years, where she will face Jessica Pegula.

Key Points: Coco Gauff vents frustration at coach after Dubai semifinal loss

  • Gauff lost a 3-hour semifinal to Svitolina
  • Venting frustration at her serving coach
  • Has struggled with double faults all season
  • Svitolina advances to first Dubai final in a decade
2 min read

'Gotten not better at all, bro': Gauff vents out at coach after loss to Svitolina

Coco Gauff's visible frustration with her coach after a serving collapse led to her Dubai semifinal defeat against Elina Svitolina.

"I've been doing everything you've wanted for the last six months... And it's gotten not better at all, bro. - Coco Gauff"

Dubai, Feb 21

Tensions flared for Coco Gauff during a dramatic semifinal defeat at the Dubai Tennis Championships, as the World No. 4 appeared to vent her frustration toward her coaching team in the midst of a gruelling contest.

Gauff lost 4-6, 7-6, 4-6 to Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in a marathon match that lasted three hours. The game was full of momentum shifts, but a key moment in the middle of the second set drew as much focus as the tennis itself.

After striking one of her 12 double faults on the afternoon, the 20-year-old American visibly bristled. Turning away from the court, Gauff could be heard expressing her exasperation, saying, "I've been doing everything you've wanted for the last six months..." She then appeared to lower her voice before adding, "And it's gotten not better at all, bro."

Many people saw the comments as aimed at her serving coach, Gavin MacMillan, who joined her team before last year's US Open.

MacMillan, a biomechanics expert with experience in various sports, notably collaborated with Aryna Sabalenka in 2022 to help improve her serve. Gauff brought him in to tackle ongoing serving issues, as she led the WTA Tour in double faults last season with over 300.

Despite making technical adjustments to her service motion, the problem reemerged during crucial moments against Svitolina. Gauff succeeded in saving four match points in a tense second-set tie-break to push the match to a deciding set, but she couldn't stop Svitolina's momentum.

The Ukrainian player, now 31, reached her first Dubai final in nearly a decade, where she will compete against American Jessica Pegula. Pegula earned her spot in the final by coming from behind to defeat her fellow American, Amanda Anisimova, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

For Gauff, the defeat was a bitter end to an otherwise strong week, underscored by visible frustration as she continues to search for greater consistency on serve.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The pressure at the top level is immense. 300 double faults last season is a serious issue. Maybe she needs a different approach, not just a biomechanics expert. Sometimes it's more mental than technical, no?
A
Arjun K
Publicly venting at your coach isn't a good look, bro. In any sport, discipline and respect for the team are key. Look at how Dhoni always kept his cool. She's young, but needs to learn to channel frustration better.
S
Sarah B
As a tennis fan from India, I feel for her. We've seen Sania Mirza battle through injuries and comebacks. The serve is so crucial in modern tennis. Six months is a long time to work on something without results. Her frustration is understandable.
V
Vikram M
Svitolina played a smart, experienced game. Sometimes you lose to a better player on the day, regardless of your own issues. Gauff saved 4 match points! That shows fight. The serve will come good if she persists.
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Kavya N
Respectfully, maybe the issue is the coaching change itself. Bringing in a new coach right before a major like the US Open can disrupt rhythm. Stability is important. Hope she and her team work it out privately.

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