Coco Gauff’s title defense at the China Open came to a disappointing end after a straight-set defeat to Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals. The 21-year-old American, who was hoping to retain her momentum from earlier successes this season, struggled to find rhythm against an inspired opponent and was beaten 6-1, 6-2.
A tough exit in Beijing
The semifinal clash saw Gauff outplayed from the baseline as Anisimova dictated the rallies with precision and power. Gauff, known for her athleticism and defensive strength, couldn’t keep pace this time, managing to win only 39% of her points on first serve. Despite producing five double faults, the real issue appeared to be her inability to turn her serve into a weapon — a weakness that her critics and mentors have noticed.
The defeat not only ended her campaign in Beijing but also put her status as the top-ranked American woman under threat, as other compatriots close in on her WTA ranking. Following the loss, Coco Gauff reflected briefly on her time in China and hinted that she would assess her future schedule before committing to another appearance at the event.
Rick Macci steps in with expert advice
Among those who weighed in on Gauff’s recent struggles was Rick Macci, the legendary coach who famously guided Serena and Venus Williams in their early years. Known for his analytical approach to the sport, Macci offered Gauff a detailed blueprint on how to rebuild her game during the off-season.
“Coco is a champion. She is just 21 years old. Her serve will become a weapon,” Macci wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “If she unplugs this December, does reconstructive surgery and rewires the muscle memory and learns the ATP forehand, she will be able to hold the baseline and dictate instead of defend.”
Rick Macci emphasized that Coco Gauff’s talent and work ethic give her all the tools needed to dominate the WTA circuit once again, but that her forehand and serve mechanics require refinement.
A technical blueprint for a strong comeback
In a follow-up post, Macci elaborated further on the technical aspects Gauff needs to focus on, comparing her style to that of ATP players.
“Coco now understands even more she has to rewire the forehand and have a science-based ATP blueprint with the racquet going to the outside of the body and develop two pronations that go quicker, faster but will be shorter. She can do it,” he added.
Rick Macci’s comments reflect a belief that with targeted technical adjustments, Coco Gauff can transform her game from defensive resilience to offensive dominance — a shift that could reignite her Grand Slam ambitions.