As the tennis world turns its gaze to the hallowed grass courts of Wimbledon, Coco Gauff stands at a crossroads. The 21-year-old American, fresh off her second Grand Slam triumph at the 2025 French Open, is poised to chase her first Wimbledon title, but her struggles on grass have sparked concern. Renowned coach Rick Macci, who once guided Serena Williams to 10 of her 23 Grand Slam titles, has issued a wake-up call, pinpointing technical and mental adjustments Gauff must make to conquer the All England Club. With her electrifying speed and fierce determination, Gauff is a favorite, but Macci’s insights highlight the challenges she faces on her least successful surface as she prepares for the tournament starting June 30, 2025.
Gauff’s 2025 season has been a testament to her meteoric rise. After early exits in Qatar, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami, she roared back on clay, reaching finals in Madrid and Rome before toppling Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 French Open final, becoming the first American woman to win at Roland Garros since Williams in 2015. “It meant a lot for me and the people doubting me,” Gauff said, reflecting on her victory. Her 74.56% win rate on clay and 70.18% on hard courts showcase her versatility, but grass remains her Achilles’ heel, with a career-best fourth-round finish at Wimbledon in 2019, 2021, and 2024. An early exit at the Berlin Open, falling 6-3, 6-3 to China’s Wang Xinyu, reignited doubts about her grass-court prowess. “Today was tough, but I’m happy to be back on court,” Gauff posted on Instagram, vowing to return stronger. “I tried to adjust to the quick change of pace, but it wasn’t enough.”
Macci, a seven-time USPTA National Coach of the Year, took to social media to address Gauff’s critics and offer strategic wisdom. “Many people saying Coco cannot play on grass. Coco can play well on any surface because of her ELITE SPEED,” he asserted, emphasizing her athleticism as a game-changer. He urged her to harness this strength by controlling the court’s center and making the baseline her “closest friend” with her forehand. “A career is a journey of winning and losing. Do not get too high or low and mentally you will continue to grow,” Macci advised, drawing on his experience coaching Williams, Venus Williams, and Maria Sharapova. His tactical advice focuses on Gauff’s forehand, which Andy Roddick noted as a vulnerability on grass, where opponents exploit its “entry point with pace.” “The easiest surface to do that on, in my opinion, against her, is on grass,” Roddick said, highlighting the need for consistency in her groundstrokes.
Gauff’s grass-court struggles are starkly evident in her 46.15% win rate on the surface, compared to her dominance elsewhere. Her best Wimbledon runs have stalled in the fourth round, including a 2024 loss to Emma Navarro. Despite this, Macci remains optimistic, comparing Gauff’s speed and competitive fire to Venus Williams. “Gazelle fast. Lightning quick. Loose wires. Burning Rage. Whippy forehand. Bullet backhand. And the most common Thread a Champions Head,” he wrote, rejecting comparisons to Serena while noting Gauff’s mental resilience. Gauff herself credits the Williams sisters as her inspiration. “They’re the reason why I have this trophy today,” she said after her 2023 US Open win, recalling how Venus and Serena’s success as Black women in a predominantly white sport fueled her belief.
The pressure is mounting as Gauff, now world No. 2, enters Wimbledon with sky-high expectations. Her 2024 season included a WTA Finals title and a China Open victory, but her serve—plagued by 21 double faults in a 2024 Wuhan Open semifinal—remains a concern. Rennae Stubbs, another of Serena’s former coaches, suggested that keeping double faults below six per match could make Gauff unstoppable. “I adore Coco Gauff, I think she’s the nicest kid,” Stubbs said, advocating for a clay-like resurgence on grass. Gauff’s emotional resilience, evident in her response to a controversial Olympic call—“I feel like I’m getting cheated on constantly in this game”—mirrors Serena’s tenacity, a quality Macci believes will carry her far.
With Wimbledon’s spotlight looming, Gauff’s journey is one of growth and grit. Macci’s faith in her ability to “figure out the best way to play” on grass, combined with her own determination to “learn in the process,” sets the stage for a potential breakthrough. As she steps onto SW19’s courts, Gauff carries not just her own dreams but the legacy of the Williams sisters, aiming to silence doubters and claim the Venus Rosewater Dish.
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