In recent years, many young tennis stars have been compared to Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion known for her powerful and aggressive style. Since Williams retired, Coco Gauff has emerged as one of America’s top players, gaining praise not only for her athleticism but also for a specific shot that draws comparisons to Williams’ game.
Former coach Rick Macci, who worked with Serena Williams, has highlighted Gauff’s slice wide serve as a remarkable skill. In fact, Macci claims that no player has executed this serve better on the WTA Tour than Gauff since Williams was active.
Coco has the best slice wide serve on the tour since Serena,
Macci tweeted.
When she plays the ball on the rise off both wings and controls the center of the court she can be the best in the sport.
—Rick Macci, former coach of Serena Williams
Comparing Coco Gauff’s serve metrics with Serena Williams’ performance
While Gauff’s slice serve has drawn significant admiration, her overall serving consistency remains a challenge. In the 2025 season, Gauff has an average first serve percentage of 60.6%, winning 70.1% of those points. This performance ranks her highest among the top 10 players and second highest in the top 20, just behind Elena Ryabkina.
However, Gauff’s effectiveness drops notably on her second serve, winning only 42.8% of those points—a figure that ranks near the bottom among the top 30 players. Additionally, she has recorded 250 double faults, the highest number in the top 100.
By contrast, Serena Williams’ serving numbers in 2016, the last year she played extensively, showed superior dominance. Williams won 75.7% of points on her first serve and held an 83.8% success rate in service games. That year, she secured her seventh Wimbledon singles title, marking her 22nd Grand Slam victory.
Significance of Gauff’s serve and its impact on her career
Coco Gauff’s slice serve has become a defining feature of her playing style, drawing praise for its precision and tactical advantage on court. Rick Macci’s endorsement underscores the potential this shot has to elevate her status within the sport if she continues to develop her overall serve consistency.
Given the comparisons to Serena Williams, Gauff faces expectations to refine her serve reliability while leveraging her strengths, such as her movement and backhand. Improving these elements could help her maintain a competitive edge and contend for major titles in the coming years on the WTA Tour.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Coco Gauff a millionaire?
A. Coco Gauff, a teenager, has earned millions. Here’s how she earns and uses her money. Gauff won the US Open in 2023, which made her a Grand Slam champion. The 19-year-old tennis star is now $3 million richer because of her victory in New York City.
Q. Does Coco Gauff have a degree?
A. Congratulations to Coco Gauff for finishing high school! She got her diploma from the Florida Department of Education after studying at Florida Virtual Flex. At 18, Gauff managed her schoolwork while also building a successful career in professional tennis over the past four years.
Q. Why is Coco Gauff so rich?
A. Forbes reports that Gauff collected $4,805,000 in prize money for winning the WTA Final, the highest ever in a WTA Tour event. In 2024, she is the highest-paid female athlete, with sponsorships from companies like Naked Juice and Bose.