Veteran tennis journalist Jon Wertheim recently expressed his frustration with the grueling tennis calendar, arguing that the relentless schedule leaves little room for players to work on their weaknesses. He used the example of NBA legend LeBron James, who benefits from an extended offseason to fine-tune his game, and lamented that tennis players, including rising star Coco Gauff, don’t have the same luxury to address key issues in their performances.
Wertheim’s critique comes at a time when Gauff’s struggles with her serve have become a focal point of discussion. The 20-year-old American phenom, who has already achieved so much at a young age, continues to face criticism for her inconsistent serve. This issue became particularly pronounced during the 2024 season, with Gauff recording a staggering 19 double faults during her surprising defeat to fellow American Emma Navarro at the US Open. The problem persisted during her semifinal match at the Wuhan Open, where she committed an even higher 21 double faults in a loss to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
In his *Sports Illustrated* mailbag, Wertheim acknowledged Gauff’s immense talent and success but highlighted that her serve remains a glaring flaw in her otherwise solid game. Despite this, Gauff managed to retain her status as the World No. 3, which, according to Wertheim, should give her some sense of long-term confidence.
“Gauff did not win a major in 2024, and I suspect she considers this year a minor disappointment,” Wertheim wrote. “She also is ranked No. 3 in the world with an obvious defect in her game. That must give her some small measure of long-term confidence.”
Wertheim’s broader point, however, focused on the structural issues within the sport. He compared Gauff’s situation to that of athletes in other sports, like basketball, who have the benefit of an offseason to work on their craft. In contrast, tennis players are on a near-constant treadmill of competition, with little time to step back, assess their games, and make the necessary adjustments. The demanding calendar, Wertheim argued, not only puts physical stress on players but also limits their ability to address technical deficiencies.
“Here’s another problem with tennis’s horrific schedule: There’s no time to improve your craft. What did (does?) LeBron James do in the offseason? He worked on his game. He straightened out the mechanics. He added moves,” Wertheim said. “Why? Because he has 120 days off from the season’s end in May/June until training camp. And even training camp, by definition, allows for preparation.”
The relentless nature of the tennis tour, with its packed schedule and mandatory tournaments, forces players to constantly chase ranking points and avoid fines, making it almost impossible for them to take an extended break to focus on their weaknesses. Wertheim addressed the idea, floated by some insiders, that Gauff should take a break from the tour to fix her serve. He pointed out the challenges such a decision would pose for the young player.
“I have heard some insider types float the idea that Gauff shuts it down for a few months to clean up her technique. Great, but she will lose points, miss mandatory tournaments, and may even risk fines,” he explained. “So instead, she spends a few days in December, wrapped around the holidays, to correct existential issues?”
This observation highlights a broader problem in tennis, where the punishing calendar leaves little room for recovery or improvement. Unlike team sports, where athletes have dedicated offseasons to recalibrate, tennis players are often forced to juggle development with the pressures of maintaining their rankings and fulfilling contractual obligations to tournaments.
Despite the criticisms surrounding her serve, Gauff herself remains optimistic about the future. Following her exit from the Wuhan Open, the American spoke to the media, expressing confidence in the solutions she and her team, including new coach Matt Daly, have identified to address the issue. Gauff explained that her double faults were part of the “growing pains” associated with adapting to a new strategy.
“Honestly, for me, I’m not worried because I found the solution. I didn’t really have time to work on it,” Gauff said. “Yeah, I’m really happy with how the last couple of weeks went. I’m just trying to be positive from there.”
Gauff added that the limited time she had to implement the adjustments meant that perfection wasn’t expected, but she was pleased with how quickly she had adapted. “It’s expected. I only had really a week to learn it, then I went to Beijing. I knew it wasn’t going to be great. I’m honestly surprised at how well I was able to do with it.”
The young star is confident that the recent struggles with her serve are part of the natural evolution of her game, viewing them as temporary setbacks that will lead to long-term improvement. As she gears up for the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, Gauff will aim to bring a more consistent and reliable serve to the court. The prestigious year-end championships, beginning on November 2, will feature an elite field, including Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Jessica Pegula, all of whom have had strong seasons. Gauff’s ability to perform well against this level of competition will be a critical test of whether her recent adjustments can hold up under pressure.
In the meantime, Wertheim’s critique of the tennis schedule remains a pertinent topic of debate. As the sport grapples with issues related to player health, performance, and longevity, calls for a more balanced calendar that allows for both competition and development are growing louder. For players like Gauff, who are still developing their games and striving to reach their full potential, the ability to take time to refine their weaknesses could be the key to unlocking even greater success in the future.