Andy Roddick has spotted an area of Coco Gauff’s game that has improved ahead of facing Iga Swiatek at the Italian Open.
The American has had a positive week in Rome after reaching the semi-finals of the event for the second time in her career.
The World Number Three has built on her run to the last 16 in Madrid and is shaping up nicely for the upcoming French Open.
But if the 20-year-old wants to progress further at the Foro Italico, she has to beat her toughest opponent on the tour.
Andy Roddick outlines what Coco Gauff has improved in her game
Gauff produced one of her finest performances of the clay court season to defeat Qinwen Zheng 7-6(4), 6-1 in the quarter-finals.
After edging the first set on a tiebreak, Gauff raised her level as she broke serve to start the second set and claimed the final four games of the set, losing just five points in three second-set service games in the process.
This was an important win physiologically for the US Open champion, who had yet to beat a top 10 player this season.
While Gauff’s serve has been under plenty of scrutiny in recent weeks, Roddick also mentioned the player’s progress with her forehand, something that has gone under the radar.
“Coco’s going to have to produce on her serve. You’re not going to be able to just roll those serves and serve 37%,” he told the Tennis Channel.
“Her first serve looked great in her last match against Zheng. Coco’s sneakily been hitting her forehand as well as I’ve seen, but it’s going to depend on the second serve.”
What is Coco Gauff’s head to head record against Iga Swiatek?
Gauff has established herself as one of the world’s best and most consistent players, but she has struggled against the World Number One.
Swiatek has won nine of her 10 previous meetings against the 2022 Roland Garros runner-up, and Gauff failed to win a set in each of the defeats.
It has been a one-sided rivalry so far and Gauff attempting to defeat the 22-year-old on clay is arguably the toughest test in tennis at present.
“It’s a tough ask when you’ve been struggling when you’ve been struggling with that second serve,” Roddick added when describing the challenge that lies ahead of Gauff.
“You also know that you have to up the risk a bit on that second serve in order not to let Iga get a hold of the point. So for those readings I like Iga but Coco has made a lot of progress this week.”
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