Tennis fans were left clutching their pearls as Coco Gauff, the rising star of American tennis, unleashed a jaw-dropping 23 double faults in her second-round match at the Canadian Open. Yes, twenty-three—more double faults than most players commit in an entire tournament. Social media exploded, memes were made, and armchair analysts had a field day. But one reaction stood out from the noise: Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, called for an immediate coaching intervention—and she wasn’t subtle about it.
“This isn’t just a bad day,” Stubbs declared on live TV. “This is a red flag—the kind that flaps in the wind and screams ‘help needed!’”
Stubbs, who guided Serena through her final Grand Slam run and has long been a respected tennis voice, didn’t mince words. “If you’re hitting 23 double faults in a match, you need to stop, sit down with your team, and ask some very honest questions. Where’s the technical adjustment? Where’s the mental focus? This isn’t junior tennis anymore.”
Gauff, who has captivated fans with her blazing speed, court charisma, and maturity beyond her years, looked visibly shaken throughout the match. Despite her usual fighting spirit, her serve—often a weapon—became her downfall. Analysts pointed to a hitch in her motion, possibly a timing issue, but the volume of errors suggested deeper concerns.
And that’s where Stubbs’ comments hit home.
“Coco’s too talented to be sabotaged by her own serve,” Stubbs said. “It’s time for some tough love. If her team can’t get this sorted, maybe she needs fresh eyes.”
The tennis world now finds itself asking: Is it a coaching problem, a technical flaw, or mental pressure catching up with the 20-year-old phenom?
One thing’s clear—this isn’t just a one-off stumble. Gauff has struggled with double faults in the past, but never to this alarming degree. A breakdown of this scale demands more than just practice; it demands a plan.
To Gauff’s credit, she owned up to the disaster in her post-match interview. “I couldn’t find my rhythm. I felt off, and I just couldn’t fix it,” she admitted, candid and composed despite the meltdown.
As the US Open looms, fans and critics alike will be watching not just Gauff’s serve, but her response. Will she tighten the screws? Will she call in reinforcements?
Rennae Stubbs has sounded the alarm. Now it’s up to Team Coco to answer the call.
