Coco Gauff acknowledged that her serve was a major weakness during her Indian Wells victory over Moyuka Uchijima but confidently stated that she could have won in straight sets if not for her struggles in that area. The American star remains focused on claiming the title in California after securing a third-round clash with Maria Sakkari.
Gauff started strong, taking the first set 6-4, but Uchijima responded by winning the second set 6-3, forcing a decisive third set. The final set turned into a fierce battle, stretching beyond two and a half hours before Gauff finally sealed the win in a tiebreak.
Following the hard-fought match, Gauff was asked what aspects of her game she aimed to improve to boost her title chances at Indian Wells. The 20-year-old didn’t hesitate to point out her serve as the key area for refinement.
“Yeah, I mean obviously serve – just like getting more serves in the court. Off the ground, I felt pretty good, honestly,” Gauff admitted. “I think if I had just double-faulted less, it probably could have been a straight-set match. I felt like I was dictating more of the rallies.”
Reflecting on recent setbacks, she remained optimistic. “Coming off a tough couple of back-to-back losses, I guess it’s about taking this as a positive, maybe more than if I had a couple of good weeks in the last two tournaments.”
With her sights set on a deep run, Gauff will look to sharpen her serve and build momentum as she advances at Indian Wells.
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