Andy Roddick Gives Reasons Behind Coco Gauff’s Loss in the Opening Round of Wimbledon

Coco Gauff’s bid for her first Wimbledon Championship was cut short very early as she lost to Dayana Yastremska in the first round. The American star’s opening match exit at the All England Club was her second in the past three years. Tennis legend Andy Roddick has revealed what might be the reason for her struggle at SW19.

Gauff had arrived at Wimbledon with sky-high confidence after winning the French Open title just last month. She had beaten her rival and World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in three sets at the Court Philippe-Chatrier. But, she hadn’t prepared well enough for Wimbledon having played just one match ahead of the tournament.

The 21-year-old was clearly struggling against the Ukrainian, especially with her serves. Despite talking about her aim to improve on her serve before the event, she made just 45 percent of her first serves and then hit nine double faults, while racking up 29 unforced errors, finishing the match with just six winners. Yastremska took advantage of the World No.2 display by dominating the match, hitting several drop shots.

The Nottingham Open finalist and Eastbourne quarter-finalist left no stone unturned especially in the second set, when she increased the tempo of her game, hitting volleys and powerful groundstrokes. She claimed the victory in the end 7-6 (3), 6-1 in just an hour and sixteen minutes.

After the match, Andy Roddick explained in his Served Podcast the reason why the 21-year-old lost the match. He pointed out that grass has never been the World No.2’s best surface and that despite reaching the Fourth Round in the past that her style of play is not beneficial on the grass court:

So there is no criticism for Coco Gauff right now. She just won her second slam. One of the best players in the world. It’s just grass is going to be her toughest surface, which is strange because that is where we got to know her when she beat Venus at 15 years old. Maybe she figures it out at some point, but just simply her game style is least beneficial on grass, and the way people can affect her in a negative way, stylistically, with hard pace through the forehand, is easier on grass.

Gauff had her first Grand Slam breakthrough at Wimbledon as she upset Venus Williams in 2019 and went on to reach the fourth round. But, last year, she suffered a round of 16 defeat against Emma Navarro and has never gone past that stage ever at the tournament.

Coco Gauff says Wimbledon loss is a bitter pill to swallow

Coco Gauff could only blame herself for her loss to Dayana Yastremska, whom she had beaten on three previous occasions. In fact, their most recent meeting was at the Madrid Open, where she came from behind to beat the Ukrainian star 0-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the second round. Nonetheless, before Wimbledon, Gauff lost in the second round of the Berlin Tennis Open against eventual runners-up Wang Xinyu.