Tearful Coco Gauff admits what her ‘biggest challenge’ in tennis is right now after reaching the US Open third round

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Coco Gauff hasn’t had an easy time of things in New York, but is still alive in the singles draw.

Emerging victorious in a three-set thriller in her opener, Gauff defeated Ajla Tomljanovic, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5.

Three sets weren’t required in round two, but that’s not to say Croatia’s Donna Vekic didn’t push her close.

Recovering from an early break in the first set, Gauff defeated Vekic 7-6, 6-2, in another less-than-convincing performance.

Advancing to the third round, Gauff outlined the ‘biggest challenges’ she is facing at this year’s US Open.

Coco Gauff says changing her service motion right before the US Open has been ‘a lot’

During her post-match press conference, Gauff commented on the work she’s been putting in to improve her serve recently.

“I think for me, just working with someone as great as Gavin [MacMillan] and also my coach that I’ve been working with, JC [Jean-Cristophe Faurel], they put so much effort into me, and they’re doing all the correct things, and I know and I believe that. So for me, I just want to go out there and execute it,” she said.

“I think today I showed off the ground and things like that. Like, I’m playing some really great tennis, and I really am proud of that.

“But yeah, I definitely think the second set for the serve was a lot better, but I would love for it to get to obviously a better point.

“The biggest challenge is, again, just changing the motion and changing everything before such a big tournament for me.

“This is one of the most nervous tournaments for me in general, and on top of all this, it’s a lot.

“I think today I felt a lot better going into the match than my first round. That’s an improvement in itself.”

After winning Roland Garros in June, Gauff struggled to find any consistent form over the next few months.

The world number three’s serve was particularly poor, rising to the top of the WTA Tour double fault rankings.

WTA Tour players with the most double faults (2025)

• 1. Coco Gauff (320)
• 2. Alycia Parks (225)
• 3. Ekaterina Alexandrova (215)
• 4. Jelena Ostapenko (211)
• 5. Marta Kostyuk (210)
• 6. Linda Noskova (209)
• 7. Dayana Yastremska (208)
• 8. Amanda Anisimova (205)
• 9. Ashlyn Krueger (199)
• 10. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (194)

Realising a change needed to be made, Gauff replaced coach Matt Daly with Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics expert who had previously helped Aryna Sabalenka fix her serve.

Rick Macci noticed a change in Gauff’s serve immediately, but have Gauff’s double fault numbers actually decreased since hiring MacMillan?

Has Coco Gauff’s serve improved at the US Open?

Across the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, Gauff averaged 12 double faults per match, a worrying statistic.

Since hiring MacMillan, that number has dropped to nine, although it should be noted a sample size of two matches probably isn’t enough to draw too many conclusions.

Improving in three of the five key metrics, there’s certainly some evidence to suggest the work with MacMillan is already paying dividends.

There is a lot of work still to be done, however, and Gauff will be well aware she will need to make another step forward if she is to pick up the title in New York.

Gauff will resume her campaign for a second US Open title on Saturday, August 30, when she plays Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the third round.