Coco Gauff’s Long-Term Vision Amidst Changes

Coco Gauff is taking a calculated risk with her recent coaching change just ahead of the US Open. It’s a bold move, though it appears that her issues, particularly with her serve, might still linger.

“I’m focused on the long haul. I aim to pull it all together before I play on either Monday or Tuesday,” she mentioned. “But, yeah, I recognize technical adjustments are needed.”

Gauff captured the Flushing Meadows title as a teenager two years ago. Yet, her attempt to defend that title last summer fell flat due to a staggering 19 double faults, resulting in a fourth-round exit to Emma Navarro. Following that, she parted ways with her former coach, Brad Gilbert, and brought in Matthew Daly.

This season has seen her struggle, especially with her serve, which ranked among the WTA’s worst. As a result, Gauff decided to let Daly go and enlisted biomechanics specialist Gavin Macmillan, who notably revamped Aryna Sabalenka’s serve last year.

“I really tried everything, but nothing seemed to fix my serve. It was getting to the point where I almost said, ‘That’s it for me and tennis,’” Sabalenka recounted, reflecting on her experience.

Gauff continues to work with longtime coach Jean-Christophe Faurel while integrating Macmillan into her routine. She has a solid record of 35 wins against 12 losses this year, including a French Open title. Still, for Gauff, the focus is on securing more slam victories.

“I can feel it, like, ‘I’m doing well and playing my style.’ But I also envision where I want my game to be in the future,” she explained, expressing her thoughts on performance. “I was vocal about my dissatisfaction with my play throughout that tournament; it was a significant moment for me.”

“Honestly, I just want to improve. I’m sort of obsessed with that journey to get better, which can be tough sometimes. But I have this clearer vision of my future and feel like I’m on the brink of it,” Gauff added.

Recently, she participated in an exhibition with Andre Agassi during the US Open Fan Week, where former coach Rick Massi noticed improvements in her serve. “Yeah, that decision to switch up was pretty spontaneous,” Gauff admitted. “Gavin was available, and it felt right—it seemed to be the best choice for my game, following my instincts.”