Coco Gauff's hopes of ending her season on a high were dashed as familiar serving troubles resurfaced in a comprehensive defeat to fellow American Jessica Pegula at the WTA Finals in Cancún.
The 20-year-old, who had shown impressive form throughout the year, struggled dramatically with her first serve throughout the match, winning just 54% of points behind it and committing eight double faults in the 6-3, 6-3 loss.
Service Struggles Return at Crucial Moment
Gauff's serve, which had been a persistent weakness earlier in her career before showing significant improvement, completely deserted her against the consistent Pegula. The third seed faced break points in nearly every service game, with her second serve proving particularly vulnerable under pressure.
"It's frustrating because we've worked so hard on this," Gauff admitted after the match. "When the serve isn't there, it affects every other part of my game."
Pegula's Clinical Performance
While Gauff struggled, Pegula delivered a masterclass in consistent, error-free tennis. The 30-year-old maintained impressive numbers throughout the contest:
- Won 76% of her first-serve points
- Faced just one break point in the entire match
- Converted three of her five break opportunities
- Committed only eight unforced errors
"Jessica played the big points perfectly," Gauff acknowledged. "She didn't give me any free points and made me play every ball."
What This Means for Gauff's Off-Season
The timing of this performance concern is far from ideal for the young American. With the off-season approaching, this defeat highlights that significant work remains on her service technique and mental resilience under pressure.
Gauff now faces an early exit from the tournament unless she can dramatically improve her level in her remaining round-robin matches. For a player who reached her first Grand Slam final earlier this year, this performance serves as a stark reminder that technical flaws can resurface at the highest level.
As the tennis world looks toward the 2025 season, all eyes will be on how Gauff and her coaching team address these recurring service issues during the winter break.
