Coco Gauff says she is ‘disappointed with herself’ after struggling with double faults for the second match in a row at the National Bank Open.
The top seed clawed her way back from a set down to defeat Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, but in the process produced 14 double faults, with 13 of those occurring during the first two sets. Gauff also struggled with her serve earlier in the week against compatriot Danielle Collins, hitting 23 double faults in that match to bring her total in the tournament to 37. The American is playing on the WTA Tour for the first time since Wimbledon after opting to miss last week’s Citi Open to work on her serve.
“There’s positives and there’s negatives,” Gauff said of her current form after beating Kudermetova.
“Obviously, I am disappointed in myself when it comes to that part of the game (her double faults) because I didn’t play D.C. to work on that and made changes to that. Doing well in practice and serving really well in practice. I just would like it to transfer to the match.
“It does give positives that I’m winning these matches, having literally like one part of my game on a crutch. So it’s like if I can stand on both feet, then I can only imagine that it would be a lot more straightforward and a lot easier for me.”
According to OptaAce, this year Gauff also hit 42 double faults at the Italian Open and 38 in Indian Wells. So far this season, no player has managed to produce more than this at a WTA 1000 event.
“I don’t want to lead that stat, and I want to do better,” she said.
“I know I probably won’t be ever double fault-free, but if I could get that to 2%, 3%, it would make a big difference in just making these matches a lot easier.
“The fact that I’m winning matches and finding ways to win with that is definitely a positive.
“But I’m a tough critic of myself. I know I can do better, and I know I should do better. It will get better. It’s just a matter of time.”
Gauff will be hoping to perform better in her next match against Canadian rising star Victoria Mboko, who started the year ranked outside the top 300 but is now at a career-high of 85th in the world. Mboko defeated Marie Bouzková 1-6, 6-3, 6-0, to become the youngest home player to reach the last 16 of the Canadian Open since 1988.
“She’s definitely playing like one of the top players in the world right now,” Gauff said of her next opponent.
“Her ranking will match that soon. It will be a tough match.”
Gauff is bidding to win her second title in 2025 in Montreal after the French Open.
