Tennis sensation Coco Gauff advised taking an eight-month break following a drop in rankings

By | Niranjan Bhargav 23 Feb, 2023

Coco Gauff, the 18-year-old tennis sensation from America, has been advised to take a break from the sport to work on her forehand technique by former World No 4 Mary Joe Fernandez. Fernandez believes that Gauff has an impressive striking technique with her forehand being a combination of power, technique, and accuracy, but it has let her down in some matches. Taking a break from tennis would not negatively impact her career due to her young age, and if she can master her forehand, she will be an unstoppable force on the court.

Potential to be a top tennis player:

Gauff has the potential to become one of the top tennis players in the world with continued practice and development. She rose significantly into the spotlight in 2022, reaching a career-high of fourth in the world rankings after a strong year on the court. Her noteworthy performances include her victory over 23-time Slam winner Venus Williams in straight sets during her opening match at Wimbledon in 2019. Gauff is also widely recognized as one of the most fearsome servers in tennis, clocking the third-fastest serve in women’s history during her second-round win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the 2022 US Open.

Advice from Mary Joe Fernandez:

On the ‘Holding Court with Patrick McEnroe‘ podcast, Fernandez suggested that if Gauff can improve her forehand, it will become a game-changer. She believes that taking six to eight months off at Gauff’s young age would not be the end of the world for her. Fernandez mentioned that Gauff’s serve is already big, and if she can figure out how to improve her forehand, she can use it to attack that side and become an unstoppable force.

Taking a break from tennis to work on her forehand technique could be a beneficial move for Coco Gauff’s career, according to Mary Joe Fernandez. Gauff has already made significant strides in her career, and with continued practice and development, she has the potential to become one of the top tennis players in the world. If she can improve her forehand, it will become a game-changer, and her serve will become an even more significant weapon on the court.