Following a victorious French Open but erratic results on grass and hard courts, Coco Gauff heads to the US Open aiming to regain her 2023 championship-winning form. This comes after parting ways with her coach just days before the tournament.
With Matthew Daly out of the picture, the 21-year-old will heavily rely on her long-time mentor Jean-Christophe Faurel in New York and is focusing on improving her serve with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan.
Faurel began collaborating with Gauff four months before her 2019 Wimbledon breakthrough, where she made headlines by defeating Venus Williams in straight sets at age 15, advancing to the tournament’s fourth round.
Her serve has been a notable weakness, resulting in a tour-high 320 double faults this season, including 42 in just three matches at this month’s Canadian Open.
This coaching change comes after an inconsistent period where Gauff has secured only four single match wins since her French Open triumph in May.
A first-round loss at Wimbledon to Dayana Yastremska, followed by defeats to Victoria Mboko and Jasmine Paolini in Canada and Cincinnati, caused her to drop from world number two to three.
The American has openly discussed the sport’s highs and lows. Despite recent challenges, she remains confident in her ability to bounce back.
“No one calls my season bad because I won the French Open, and for many, winning a Grand Slam defines a successful season,” Gauff remarked after her Cincinnati quarter-final exit.
“Tennis fans sometimes expect us to win every week. But playing for 11 months isn’t easy.
“It’s normal for a player to have strong 3-4 weeks, followed by weaker ones, due to the nature of our season.”
Gauff now returns to the scene of her major victory in 2023, aiming to secure a third Grand Slam title.
With a resilient mindset, top-tier athleticism, and experience in competing for major titles, Gauff is widely regarded as a future world number one. Bold moves like revamping her coaching team before a major could be what pushes her to the top.
“It’s surprising for a top player to change coaches right before a major,” analyst Patrick McEnroe commented. “But what you have to love about Coco Gauff is her desire to improve.”
