Coco Gauff showed up a major problem in her game as she lost in the semi-final of the Wuhan Open to Aryna Sabalenka.

Gauff made an astonishing 21 double faults as she was beaten 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Gauff made a costly 21 double faults against SabalenkaGetty

That is a career high for the 20-year-old, and is the most from any WTA player in a main draw match in 2024.

She made the 21st double fault while she was match point down.

It was a tough end to a good run in Wuhan as she was looking to make it back-to-back titles.

Gauff won at the China Open last week, but failed to make the final of the WTA 1000 event.

There will be huge work for the American’s new coach, Matt Daly, who only joined up with her team before the China Open.

She recently split from coach Brad Gilbert, who helped her win the US Open.

“I don’t want to give too much of what’s going on, but there are changes happening,” Gauff said earlier this week. “I’ve been playing with them since Beijing.”

For Aryna Sabalenka, she does not need to make such changes to her game.

The two-time former Wuhan champion moved to 16-0 at the tournament and it is her third final.

Sabalenka booked her place in the finalAFP

She also levelled her head-to-head with Gauff at 4-4.

“Honestly, I think in the first set she was just crushing it,” Sabalenka said. “Whatever she was doing, everything was flying in. Everything was so aggressive. I didn’t have much opportunities.”

Referring to her own previous serving issues, she added: “I was playing that match thinking, Well, girl, I feel you.

“I feel you like nobody else. I know what she’s going through. This is really difficult.

This is really tough. But I know that if she’ll be able to overcome this serve situation, she already one of the best players, but I’m pretty sure she’s going to be one of the greatest players.

“I was just trying to put as much pressure on her as I can so she would go even crazier on her serve.”