Coco Gauff's dominant performance at the US Open 2026 showcases the remarkable evolution of her serve, a key factor in her recent success. Her rejuvenated serve has become a formidable weapon, as evidenced by her triumph over Zeynep Sonmez in New York. This victory builds upon her earlier triumph at the Cincinnati Open, where her serve's accuracy and speed were on full display.
Gauff's serve showcased a strategic shift, with a focus on hitting closer to the line while maintaining her serve speed. This improvement in accuracy has given her full confidence in her serve's capabilities, as she admitted, "I'm now going for the ace, or I know I can hit the serve and the return is probably not going to come back."
The opening game against Sonmez set the tone, with Gauff's powerful 112mph ace down the middle, followed by an unreturned first serve and another ace, all within 90 seconds. This dominance continued throughout the match, as Sonmez struggled to get balls into play whenever Gauff landed a first serve, winning 93% of those points in the first set.
The second set saw Gauff break again for a 1-0 lead, but her serve faced a challenge as Sonmez levelled the score at 2-2. However, Gauff's resilience shone through with a precise ace out wide and a 115mph unreturned first serve, a stark contrast to her previous year's struggles in similar situations.
This gutsy hold laid the foundation for Gauff's subsequent break for 4-3, and ultimately, her victory. Her serve's power and precision were on full display, with three unreturned first serves just under the 120mph mark, setting up three match points. Gauff's belief and confidence in her serve were evident, as she stated, "Last year I literally was like I hope I make it in. It's such a big difference knowing almost every serve I'm trying to basically hit 110, 115, 120mph if I can."
Gauff's serve has become a dominant force, a testament to her hard work and strategic adjustments. Her performance at the US Open 2026 not only highlights her individual growth but also her potential to challenge for top rankings. As she continues to refine her game, Gauff's serve is set to remain a formidable weapon, leaving opponents struggling to keep up with her newfound power and precision.
