Coco Gauff Overcomes Eleven Double Faults to Secure Gritty Three Set Victory in Miami

Coco Gauff survives 11 double faults to beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto in Miami. Read about her resilient comeback and expert analysis on her serving struggles.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 5:16 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tennis365

A Relentless Struggle at the Service Line

The reigning French Open champion faced a grueling physical and mental test in Miami as her ongoing struggles with her serve threatened to derail her tournament progress. Gauff committed eleven double faults throughout the duration of the match, illustrating a technical inconsistency that has increasingly shadowed her recent performances. This display of vulnerability followed a difficult week in Indian Wells where she was forced to retire, yet her ability to navigate these internal obstacles proved decisive in a match that lasted well into the third set.

Adapting to a High Tempo Opponent

Facing Elisabetta Cocciaretto, a player who had previously defeated her in Qatar, Gauff found herself under immediate pressure from the baseline. According to Gauff, her opponent takes the ball exceptionally early, which significantly reduced the time available for the American to react and set up her own shots. Once she adjusted to the rapid tempo of the rallies, Gauff noted that she felt more capable of dictating the flow of the longer exchanges. This tactical shift allowed her to claw back into the contest after losing the opening set to the aggressive Italian.

The Psychological Weight of Performance Expectations

The difficulties Gauff experienced on the court were not limited to the scoreboard, as the sparse crowd reportedly reacted with visible concern to some of her more erratic second serves. Former world number four Greg Rusedski suggested that the young star’s serving issues may have transitioned from a technical flaw into a psychological barrier. According to Rusedski, when a specific weakness becomes a constant topic of public discussion, it can permeate an athlete’s psyche and cause them to overthink their execution. He emphasized that the focus should remain on overall game improvement rather than fixating solely on the serve.