The Rainy Serve – Coco Gauff's Journey to Overcome the Yips at US Open 2026

Rain fell on the practice courts of StubHub Center, Los Angeles, on an August afternoon last year. No spectators, no cameras, just a 21-year-old girl repeating the motion of tossing the ball, swinging the racket, and watching it hit the net. Coco Gauff practiced her serve in the rain like a desperate person, as if trying to hold onto something that had slipped away long ago. It's an image I can't forget, because it reveals a truth American media rarely mentions: the serve was once the biggest nightmare of a two-time Grand Slam champion. A year later, on Arthur Ashe Stadium, in the first round of the 2026 US Open, I saw Gauff stand at the baseline, take a deep breath, and toss the ball up. Her serve flew through the air, without hesitation, landing in the corner where opponent Zeynep Sonmez could only graze it. She won the first game without losing a point. "It's a big difference from a year ago," Gauff said after the match, sweat still on her forehead. "I finally feel confident on that shot." People remember the ace, but I remember the silence after the whistle, when she stood there, looked up at the stands, and smiled with relief. To understand the significance of this moment, we need to look back in history. Coco Gauff, born in 2026, is one of the most outstanding young talents in the new generation of women's tennis. She won the US Open in 2026 and Roland Garros in 2026, becoming the only American female player of this generation with two Grand Slam titles. But throughout her career, her serve has always been a fatal weakness. Consecutive double faults, inexplicable lost service games, and a lack of confidence at the baseline have cost her many times against top players like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. Last year, the situation became so bad that Gauff was diagnosed with the "yips" - a psychological syndrome that causes athletes to lose control of their movements due to anxiety. She once admitted: "I can't believe I'm afraid to serve." But instead of crumbling, Gauff chose to face it. The image of practicing in the rain I witnessed was part of that process. She threw herself into training like someone saving her career. In my 38 years of following professional tennis, I've seen many players struggle with the yips. Elena Dementieva, the former world No. 3 from Russia, was famous for her terrible serve despite having an excellent baseline game. But few have overcome this obsession. Gauff, with her youth and determination, chose a different path. She not only trained hard but also changed her entire psychological approach. She began working with sports psychologists, learning to control her breathing, and rebuilding confidence from the smallest details. In a recent interview, she shared: "I've learned to accept that I can make mistakes, but I can't let fear control me." In this year's first-round match, I carefully observed every serve from Gauff. Unlike the timid image of last year, she now stands more firmly, tosses the ball higher, and most importantly, shows decisiveness in every swing. Her serve is no longer a worry but has become a lethal weapon. She finished the first set 6-3, including a love hold right at the start. This shows her focus and ability to control the match tempo have improved significantly. But what impressed me most wasn't the aces or the score, but how Gauff handled difficult situations. In the second set, when Sonmez began returning better and applying pressure, Gauff didn't flinch. She used her serve to escape dangerous situations, rushed to the net, and finished points intelligently. When the score was tense, she remained calm, as if the serve had become a natural part of her body. The match ended 6-3, 6-4, a victory that wasn't too difficult but was full of meaning. Based on my 38 years of watching tennis, I can say that fixing a "yips" serve is not just a technical issue. It requires a deep psychological change. Gauff was once a defensive counterpuncher, relying on her movement and return of serve. But now that her serve is reliable, she can transition to a more aggressive playing style. This significantly increases her power on hard courts, where serve and first strike matter greatly. I've reviewed Gauff's matches from last year and compared them to today's match. The clearest difference lies in rhythm. Last year, she often had long pauses before serving, as if trying to calm herself. Now, her serving rhythm is faster, smoother, and shows no signs of hesitation. That shows confidence rebuilt day by day, hour by hour in practice. The image of practicing in the rain last year is proof of that determination. But I also noticed something many might overlook: Gauff didn't just fix her serve; she changed her approach to the match. She became more patient in building points, not rushing to finish with risky shots. She knows how to keep rhythm, how to pressure opponents with consistency, and only unleashes decisive shots when truly needed. This reminds me of a tennis legend's saying: "Defense is the art of staying silent at the right moment." Gauff has learned to be silent on court, letting her serve speak for itself. Technically, I noticed a few subtle changes. Her toss is higher now, giving her more time to align the shot. Her footwork is more solid, no more wobbling after the serve. Serve speed seems to have increased, though I don't have exact numbers, but I can feel the difference in the sound of racket hitting ball. Most importantly is consistency. She no longer makes silly double faults at crucial moments. In the second set, there was a moment when Sonmez had a break point. I saw Gauff take a deep breath, look down at the ball, and execute a powerful serve into the T. Sonmez couldn't return it, and the score went back to deuce. Gauff then won that game with an ace. That's the difference I'm talking about. Before, in similar situations, she would often double fault or serve weakly, giving opponents chances. Now, she uses her own weapon to escape. This also reflects tactical maturity. Gauff is no longer a player who just rallies from the baseline. She's learned to combine serve with follow-up shots, surprise net approaches, and change the match tempo at will. She's becoming a more complete player, and that significantly increases her chances in this tournament. I also want to talk about the bigger picture. The WTA currently has many excellent players: Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and young talents like Mirra Andreeva. Gauff, ranked world No. 4, is one of the top contenders for the title. But she was often rated below Swiatek and Sabalenka because of her serve weakness. Now that this weakness has been fixed, she can compete with them on hard courts. A good serve will give her easier service games, saving energy for crucial return games. I recall the 2026 US Open final when Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka. She played brilliantly, but her serve was still erratic at times. If she had today's consistent serve, that match would have been much easier. But that's the past. Now, Gauff is writing a new chapter in her career. And I believe the rainy serve will be an important part of that story. However, I want to offer a contrarian view to what American media is praising. They're building an inspiring "resurrection" story, but I think it may be too early. The win over Zeynep Sonmez, a player outside the top 100, is not a real test. The biggest question is: will this serve hold up under pressure against Iga Swiatek or Aryna Sabalenka? Will it still be effective against players with excellent return games like Elena Rybakina? I also notice that many articles focus too much on the serve, forgetting that Gauff still has other weaknesses. Her forehand, though improved, is not yet a formidable weapon. And could over-reliance on the serve make her predictable? I remember a football player saying: "Contracts are on paper, but the ink gets blown away by the media storm." That applies to sports stories too. Media can inflate a small victory into a revolution, but truth is only tested over time. Moreover, I worry about expectation pressure. Gauff is the No. 4 seed, and American fans expect her to go deep. If she loses in the third or fourth round, the "serve fix" story could quickly turn against her. I've seen many such cases in my career, when a player was highly expected but couldn't bear the weight of attention. But I also believe Gauff, with the resilience of a two-time champion, has enough maturity to face that. One thing I want to emphasize: the difference between a first-round win and a Grand Slam title is enormous. Gauff needs to prove her serve can maintain form over seven matches, especially in tight, extended battles. Mental endurance is crucial, and I want to see how she reacts when trailing by a set. So, what happens next? I'll closely monitor Gauff's serve statistics in upcoming rounds. If her first-serve percentage stays high, if double faults don't spike, then I believe she's truly overcome the past. But if I see old signs return - hesitant serves, long pauses - then this story will take another turn. Coco Gauff has taught us a lesson in perseverance. She didn't give up when facing difficulties, but chose to confront her fear in the rain, in silence. As I often say: "The beat tells rhythm with the ball, but the heart keeps rhythm with memories." And the memory of those rainy practice sessions will be her motivation to go further in this tournament. Can she turn her serve from a weapon into a winning weapon? Let's wait and see. I'll especially watch her fourth-round or quarterfinal match, where she might face a top-10 player. That will be the real test. If she passes, I'll believe her serve has truly become a reliable weapon. For now, I can only say Gauff is on the right track, and I look forward to what she'll show in the coming days.