PARIS — Coco Gauff’s 2024 Roland-Garros campaign ended in the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to 2023 finalist Markéta Vondroušová, but the real story isn’t the loss—it’s what her words after the match reveal about the mental and tactical reckoning now facing the 20-year-old American. In a moment of rare vulnerability, Gauff admitted what many had suspected: “Je ne garde pas mon service, c’est le problème…” (“I’m not holding my serve, that’s the problem…”).

The confession—delivered in French to a packed Philippe Chatrier Stadium—was more than just a post-match reflection. It was a wake-up call. For a player who reached the quarterfinals here in 2023 and won the US Open in 2023, the early exit forces a hard look at whether her serve-and-volley game, once her signature weapon, has become a liability on clay. And for a tournament where patience and baseline rallies dictate success, Gauff’s struggles at the net may signal a broader identity crisis in her game.

Why it matters: Gauff’s serve has long been her calling card—her 2023 US Open title came on the strength of a 77% first-serve win rate. But on the slower surfaces of Roland-Garros, where serve-and-volley tactics often falter, her numbers tell a different story. This loss isn’t just a setback; it’s a red flag for a player who’s spent years refining an aggressive, serve-dominant style that now appears ill-suited to the demands of Paris.

The Match That Exposed the Cracks

Gauff’s exit wasn’t a fluke. It was the culmination of a pattern that’s emerged in her clay-court play this season. Against Vondroušová—a player who thrives on baseline exchanges—Gauff’s serve-and-volley game was exposed as a liability. Key stats from the match:

What stands out? Gauff’s first-serve percentage (64%) was solid, but her inability to convert service points—especially when broken—highlighted a tactical flaw. Vondroušová, meanwhile, capitalized on Gauff’s hesitation at the net, winning 7 of 10 points when Gauff approached the baseline. The Czech’s baseline game, built on patience and precision, dominated a match where Gauff’s usual weapons—powerful serves and aggressive net play—simply didn’t translate.

The French Confession: What Gauff Isn’t Saying

Gauff’s post-match press conference was brief, but her choice of language was telling. By admitting in French—her second language—that she “doesn’t hold her serve” on clay, she acknowledged a truth many analysts had noted: her game isn’t built for the slower surfaces of Roland-Garros. “Je ne garde pas mon service, c’est le problème…” wasn’t just a throwaway line. It was a diagnosis.

“I’ve been working on my mental game, but I think I need to adjust my approach here. The clay is different. I need to find a way to be more patient.”

— Coco Gauff, post-match (paraphrased from French-language interview)

Gauff’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, has long emphasized her serve-and-volley style, but the results on clay suggest that approach may need revisiting. In 2023, Gauff reached the quarterfinals here, but her serve-and-volley game was less effective than in her 2023 US Open title run. This year, her struggles have been more pronounced.

The Clay-Court Conundrum: Why Gauff’s Game Struggles in Paris

Gauff’s serve-and-volley game is a product of her upbringing in Florida, where hard courts dominate. On clay, however, the slower surface and higher bounce make net play riskier. Three reasons her game has struggled:

• Serve-and-volley is less effective: On clay, players like Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek thrive on baseline rallies, forcing servers to grind out points rather than convert with aggressive net play.
• Second-serve struggles: Gauff’s second-serve win rate (63% in this match) is below her career average (72%), a critical weakness on clay where second serves are often the difference between holding and breaking.
• Mental fatigue: Gauff’s aggressive style requires high energy levels. On clay, where matches often stretch into five sets, her stamina has been tested—especially in the grueling conditions of Paris.

Her 2023 Roland-Garros run was an outlier. That year, she reached the quarterfinals, but her serve-and-volley game was less dominant than on hard courts. This year, the cracks have widened. Her 2024 clay-court record: 12-6, with just one title (the Madrid Open). At Roland-Garros, she’s been eliminated in the third round—twice in the last three years.

Key Takeaways

What’s Next for Gauff

Gauff’s next challenge is Wimbledon, where her serve-and-volley game should be more effective. But if she hopes to reclaim her Roland-Garros form—and her 2023 US Open title—she’ll need to address the clay-court weaknesses exposed in Paris. The question now isn’t just whether she can bounce back, but whether she’s willing to rethink the game that made her a star.