Why Andrea Petkovic wants tennis fans to reconsider how they view Coco Gauff after Miami Open

It’s not been an ideal start, but she’s still a player nobody enjoys facing. Her serve remains a work in progress, but even so, Gauff consistently puts pressure on top players. According to Andrea Petkovic, facing Gauff is always a tough task regardless of form.

Andrea Petkovic believes Coco Gauff doesn’t get enough credit from fans Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images Questions about Gauff’s serve have been hanging over her for more than a year now, though plenty of voices have pointed out just how strong other parts of her game remain. Petkovic has added her name to that list, pointing out several areas where Gauff still excels at the highest level. The German told The Big T: “Somehow I feel like she is underestimated because she has flaws in her game, but these flaws are in a way sometimes also strengths for her.

“I am taking away the serve, the serve arguably cost her the match in the final vs Aryna Sabalenka [in Miami]. ” Drawing on personal experience, Petkovic explained just how effective certain aspects of the Americans’ game can be. She went on: “I played her a couple of times and practiced with her often,” she continued.

“The first time I practiced with her was on clay actually, which is probably her best surface if you take her game style, and probably the most difficult part playing her was off the backhand side, a very powerful and flat shot would come at you. “But off the forehand side, a very different shot would, with a lot of spin, bounce and jump. It was very difficult to adjust so she has a natural change of rhythm in her game and just for those who have never played her and judge her sometimes from the outside…” “I would not compare her with Angelique Kerber because I think Coco has a much longer career ahead of her.