Italian Open: Coco Gauff Credits Serena Williams-Inspired Change in Gameplan to Neutralize Paula Badosa

Coco Gauff entered into a surprising slump as the clay swing began. In Stuttgart, she lost in her second appearance with a round of 16 exit in the Madrid Open. The American player needed to work on her game, and she did, taking inspiration from her idol. Gauff copied a particular part of Serena Williams’ training routine, which helped her enter the quarterfinal in the Italian Open.

Gauff beat Paula Badosa, who recently started improving, in the 16, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 round. While there are still some signs of trouble in her game, she has vastly improved her return on serves, as she converted 50% of receiving points against Badosa. In the post-match presser, she talked about how she improved her returns. “I think for me, it was just realizing that not everything needs to be a return winner. Also I did shorten my swings on the returns. I think just reps, honestly. That helps a lot, too.“

Due to the Queen of the Court, returning became a prominent aspect of her routine. “Yeah, I think it came with just reps. I would spend a lot of time returning. One thing I learned from Serena, she would spend probably like an hour sometimes literally just hitting returns.”

Furthermore, she changed from where she returned her service. “Also I kind of adjust where I stand sometimes . Sometimes I stand inside, sometimes I stand back. Depends on the server. Usually obviously bigger servers, you stand back.”

Williams inspired Gauff to improve, as she has many times. The Queen of the Court has inspired many athletes around the world, with her magic working on Gauff when she was a child.

Serena Williams struck a 6-year-old Coco Gauff with her charms

Coco Gauff, who was about to turn six, was seated with her father, Corey Gauff when she saw Serena Williams raise the Australian Open trophy in triumph. Little Coco was in awe, and her father, Corey, felt the same way, calling the American icon ‘the GOAT.’ However, a young Gauff, who had no idea what that term meant, asked her father to clarify. As the young Coco understood, her mind was set. “I want to be a GOAT,” she would tell her father.

Gauff did not only take inspiration from tennis but also looked up to Serena and Venus Williams for their stance as charitable individuals. She took part in the US Open Legacy Initiative, which aimed to refurbish tennis courts around the country. After the US Open champion lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open semifinal, she uplifted herself by reminding herself of Serena and her biggest rival, Maria Sharapova.

Despite being the best, they would also lose matches but always came back with the same fire. Serena Williams has inspired Gauff to improve and change. Can she live up to the legacy of her idol?