Coco Gauff needs a fresh start after the US Open

Submissions have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

As it says, Wednesday is Mailbag Day…

• Thank you to everyone who came to the live stream Served Podcasts. We had a lot of fun and it was a pleasure to meet some of you. More announcements to come…

• Here is the latest Servedincluding Andy Roddick’s analysis of Coco Gauff and the US Open redraw.

• We’re back this weekend with recaps of the US Open final and our 50 Post-Tournament Thoughts column.

First a few questions and answers …

Hello,

I have been a fan since 1983 (Chris Evert was number 2 and Martina Navratilova was invincible) and I can tell you that there has never been a champion who did not make a comeback.

Best regards,

Joe Johnson

• Well expressed. I wrote recently that Carlos Alcaraz Check engine Lights are on. You know what? Engines are checked, serviced and cars keep running. It’s been a disastrous month. We won’t sugarcoat it. It’s not just the losses, but the absences, the aimless shots and the mishaps in execution. But comebacks abound. And careers are long.

I feel like the question is specific to Coco Gauff. She’s going through a tough time right now. Playing a match as the defending US Open champion – Labor Day week, at your home major, against another American – and making 19 double faults – 11 of them in the deciding set – is a traumatic experience. But recovering from trauma is part of the professional player experience. No career is straightforward. No career goes exactly according to plan.

In my view, Gauff needs two things: 1) time off to fix the technical deficiencies that are causing these problems, and 2) a reminder that many players – Aryna Sabalenka is a name that springs to mind – have struggled with the yips and technical failures… and still coped just fine. Here’s that she looks back on this summer as something she overcame, not a downward spiral that ruined her career.

Hello Jon,

It would be interesting to see what percentage of points players win when they are on the same side as their coaches compared to those on the other side. It might be interesting to see if there is a difference for some players and not for others.

Thanks,

Troy

• I love it. Great idea. And – unlike so many other tennis date suggestions – this one is readily available. And let’s use this as an opportunity to give tips Craig O’Shaughnessya real tennis ace. He’s always good for a nugget. He gave me one recently: More than 70% of the points at the US Open were scored in four strokes or less, the highest percentage in nearly a decade and proof that the courts play fast.

Dear Jon,

Thank you for taking the right stance when it comes to the conflict of interest that arises when television analysts who coach active players also have a public role as broadcasters. These analysts/broadcasters occupy a role and space with social capital and trust from the public and fans. This is simply not the same as any world-ranked coach (two to three digits) coming on ESPN to do an isolated interview and tell people their player is innocent… There is something about staff and players having a direct line to the public that is completely sidelined in tennis and taints the sport as a whole, not just individuals. (Perhaps this is true in other sports, but I have not seen it in the ones I follow.)

Br from Canada

• Thank you. I was encouraged that 90% of the comments recognized how problematic and, to use a legal term, gross this all is.

Someone here takes issue with my “opinion.” Just to be clear, that’s not me. Those are the rules of engagement. Agents don’t write reviews of their clients’ films. Admissions officers don’t read their own children’s applications. Judges speak out for themselves when they benefit from a legal outcome.

Outside the incestuous world of tennis, saying members of the media shouldn’t comment when they’re being paid by those involved is about as controversial as saying people shouldn’t leave stores with items they didn’t buy. It’s so obvious, basic, and widely accepted that it hardly needs to be said.

I wonder if you have any inside information on why Elena Rybakina’s former coach Stefano Vukov was banned from the WTA? Her withdrawal from the US Open definitely seems to be related to this, as she didn’t appear to have any injuries during her first round win.

Alan K.

• There is a lot of talk about fourth seed Elena Rybakina, who is coming out of her eighth Event this year after her victory in Round 1 – and far too much unfounded speculation.

This is what I can report. It was an open tennis secret: your long-time coach Vukov embarrassed many people, including WTA employees. (He would openly shout at her; they sometimes argued during the games; he got this tattoo.) Pam Shriver once wrote on X“As I watch Rybakina try to win her second major title in seven months, I hope she finds a coach who will ALWAYS speak to and treat her with respect and never settle for less.” Rybakina replieddefended Vukov. In many areas the unease remained.

Before the 2024 US Open, Rybakina announced that she and Vukov were going their separate ways. As is her habit – and as is her right – she dodged all questions. The WTA did not respond to my requests for clarification. I was told that her withdrawal before round 2 was due to health reasons and not in connection with Vukov. It is up to her to explain this if she wishes.

I just read Mailbag and agree with the reader who complains about the ticket prices. I’m in the 1% (barely) and this year, for the first time in years, I’m not going because the prices are unaffordable for a family of four.

Any comments/advice for Stefanos Tsitsipas? Here’s a guy who was a solid top five player and now can’t win a first round match. How does he get out of this?

Anna

• I wonder if the ticket issue doesn’t boil down to this: Does the USTA, as the guardian of tennis, which is supposed to grow and promote the sport, have an obligation to maximize revenue? Or to make its most important event accessible? This year, too, the strategy is essentially “first hit free.” The USTA will waive fees during qualifying week. That is naked, unbridled capitalism.

And as for Tsitsipas, he may be inspired by his partner Paula Badosa, whose parents we rarely see.

Which player was more surprising in reaching 9th place: Veronika Kudermetova or Dominique Van Roost?

@rafasboyfriend

• Hey! You’re in the wrong place to criticize Van Roost! I just played a version of this game with a friend. Name the most surprising player placement. The unanimous winner was Badosa, who came in second with one major quarterfinal, no semifinals and four titles to her name.

Yulia Putintseva was disrespectful to a volunteer! I doubt she will forget it! I hope Putintseva loses the support of the fans because of her rude behavior. Players are not allowed to disrespect the umpire, but they are allowed to disrespect a ball kid? The ATP needs a rule about the mistreatment of ball kids!

@lorilfraser2468

• This question refers to this little numbness.

We try to show mercy to the players in the heat of the moment. And Putintseva has since has apologized. But this is so shabby. A) You choose someone to bring you tennis balls. To quote Dave Barry, “A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter is not a nice person.” B) You are a famous tennis player and used to being in the spotlight. The ball girl did not do this to be in the spotlight. She will remember this interaction for the rest of her life. C) She did beautifully. D) The best punishment: Putintseva should have to go to a tournament without a ball girl on her side of the net.

HAPPY BUSINESS END, ALL OF YOU!