Gauff explains the changes she has made to her serve at the US Open
The American details the modifications she has made to her serve mechanics, which are starting to yield results, and speaks of the great confidence and calm she feels at this US Open.
Cori Gauff has rightfully earned the consideration of a strong title contender at the US Open 2026. The newly crowned champion in Cincinnati is at her best both on and off the court for over a year now, since embarking on the ambitious path of altering her serve mechanics and transforming herself as a player.
Putting the present at risk for a higher good in the future. That is what Cori Gauff decided to do just over a year ago, and she is beginning to reap the fruits of that bold maneuver. The American realized that she needed to change that stroke to continue aiming for glory, despite having won two Grand Slams that way, which clearly speaks to her humility and maturity. After making a victorious debut at the US Open 2026, she detailed the changes she has made.
These were Cori Gauff's reflections after winning in her debut at the US Open 2026
Gauff's surprise at her emotional management
"I was nervous in the tunnel, and for some reason, when warm-up started, it passed. I don’t know what calmed me down. I think maybe it was the confidence I had this week knowing that my opponent would have to play at a really high level and I at a really low level for things not to go my way."
"But Zeynep brought that high level today. I was just glad to have been able to get through that second set. It was probably one of the best first-round matches I have played."
"Obviously, based on the outcome, I've had some that were easier, but I think that was a consequence of me playing well and maybe my opponent not being at such a high level. I think today was probably one of the best matches she has played, especially in that middle part of the second set."
"The fact that I felt this way today doesn't mean I won't be nervous in the next match because I probably will be. I don’t know, today I had a strange feeling and felt quite calm."
Total confidence in herself in key moments
"I think it’s just knowing that I have a high break percentage and knowing that I can break. In the game she broke me, I maybe took a bit of speed off the first serve. I was trying to look for a big kick, and it just didn’t come out as I wanted."
"So just knowing that it takes a lot to break me. She played how she needed to play to get that break. Honestly, in the last game, I was just focused on trying to get out of that. I knew that if I could hold that game, I felt confident to break in the next one. And I did."
How Gauff has changed her serve
The serve was once again one of the main focuses of attention. Gauff acknowledged that she has made technical modifications related to the ball toss, her body position, and the wrist movement, although she insists that there hasn’t been a sudden transformation, but a gradual process of working with her team.
"Maybe the consistency in the toss. Not tossing it too far forward, so I don't fall so much. I think I’m maybe not bending my wrist as much. Honestly, it’s been a gradual change with the serve. I don’t even realize how much it has changed until someone posted a video of me serving, even from this year's Miami Open, and my serve looks different now."
"I didn't really feel the difference that much, but I think it’s just been constant reminders that my coaches have been giving me, and little by little, it’s adapting to the way it should look."
Gauff talks about her unusual childhood
"I was homeschooled since third grade, so to be honest, I don't have memories of going back to school. I was doing Florida Virtual, so I suppose around this time we were starting our tutorials."
"This was by far the easiest week of school. I came to the Open almost every year. I don’t remember ever doing schoolwork while I was here, so for me, it still felt like being on vacation. But yes, unfortunately, I didn't have a normal childhood."
Another demonstration in this press conference and the triumphant debut of Cori Gauff at the US Open 2026 of the great moment the American is experiencing. She was brave and made the right change in her serve mechanics, and now it's time to watch her compete at her best for glory in every tournament.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gauff explica en el US Open los cambios que ha hecho en su saque