Coco Gauff explains the mid-match tweak to her serve that helped turn things around in Miami

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Gauff works through early struggles to reach third round in Miami Coco Gauff came through a tough test to reach the third round of the Miami Open, overcoming Elisabetta Cocciaretto despite losing the first set. The American withdrew from her previous match at Indian Wells due to injury, and there were questions about her fitness heading into this tournament. Earlier this year at the Qatar Open, Gauff was beaten by Cocciaretto, and after dropping the opening set 6-3 in Miami, it looked like history might repeat itself.

But Gauff turned things around with a strong comeback and explained how she managed it after securing the win. Coco Gauff discusses adjustments to her serve against Elisabetta Cocciaretto Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images Gauff’s serve has been a recurring issue over the past year, and those problems showed up again early on against Cocciaretto. But as the match went on, particularly in the final set, her serve settled down and became a key part of her comeback.

Speaking to The Tennis Channel, Gauff talked about how she changed things up during the decider. She explained: “I think just slowing down some of the serves on the first and I think also using the new balls to my advantage when it was time. “Maybe not going for as small of targets and just letting the new balls fly for me.

Just being smart with the serve, mixing it up, taking some pace off and then applying pace. “I know I can do that with my serve so I think just trying to remember that it doesn’t have to be as big as I want it to be all the time. ” Next up for Gauff is a meeting with Alycia Parks as she continues her bid for a first Miami Open title.