Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs reveals what Iga Swiatek should learn from Coco Gauff to survive at WTA Finals amid worrying form

Serena Williams' ex-coach has shared some advice for Iga Swiatek. She feels the Pole can take a leaf out of Coco Gauff's book to stay alive in the WTA Finals.

Swiatek is among the eight participants competing in Riyadh this year. She started her campaign with a commanding victory over Madison Keys, but lost to Elena Rybakina in the next bout.

The second seed will face Amanda Anisimova on Wednesday for a place in the semifinals. Stubbs addressed Swiatek's strengths and weaknesses and felt she could be a bit more cautious between rallies, like Coco Gauff.

Here's what the American said via 'The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.'

"I feel with Iga, when she gets pushed really hard with a big, deep ball, she tries to hit it back as hard. And with her grip, it's very difficult to do that, particularly on the forehand side. So I would like to see her implement in the offseason some kind of slice forehand, some kind of variation, whether it be just to jump it back, just to get it in the court," Stubbs said "And Coco Gauff is a perfect example of that. Clearly, Coco's forehand is, you know, her weakest side. But rather than miss, she will get it in the court. And she throws up the... high looping. High looping, which is really, really effective," Stubbs added (Time 29:09)

Switek has been inconsistent in the last few weeks. After winning the title in Seoul, she reached the last 16 in Beijing and the quarterfinals in Wuhan.

The 24-year-old was caught off guard by in-form Kazakh Elena Rybakina in the WTA Finals. Despite winning the first set, Rybakina convincingly defeated her, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.

"The longer the point goes, most of the time Iga Swiatek's going to win it" - Serena Williams' ex-coach on how to create problems for Aryna Sabalenka, Amanda Anisimova and Elena Rybakina

Rybakina, Garcia, and Iga Swiatek at the WTA Finals 2025 - Day 3 - Source: Getty

Serena Williams' ex-coach has shared some valuable advice for Iga Swiatek. The Pole must win her next match against Amanda Anisimova to stay alive in Riyadh.

Stubbs suggested that Iga Swiatek might benefit from adopting a more defensive strategy when facing players like Anisimova, Sabalenka, and Rybakina. She cited Coco Gauff as an example of someone who effectively uses this approach.

"Coco's one of the most unbelievable athletes I've ever seen play tennis. So she will run down the next ball if you smack it. So Iga Swiatek can do that too. So it's like, just stay in the point, throw in a bit of junk every now and again, throw in a high ball, throw in a slice forehand, throw in a chip forehand, get it" Stubbs said "The longer the point goes, most of the time she's going to win it, right? Because she's physically so much more gifted, but not so... Just so gifted, so strong, and so fit. It's like, but if you're not in the point, you're not going to win" she added

Sabalenka and Rybakina are still undefeated at the WTA Finals. They are most likely to qualify for the semifinals this year.

"As long as you get it below the net, you are making things really uncomfortable for players like Amanda Anisimova, Rybakina, and Sabalenka, who are tall, big strikers...who don't want to bend and necessarily come into the net" she concluded

Swiatek dominated Anisimova during the Wimbledon finals this year, but lost to the American in New York. The duo will face each other during the evening session in Riyadh on Tuesday (November 5, 2025).

Edited by Aman Mohamed