Latest news with #GavinMacMillan
CNA
3 hours ago
- Sport
- CNA
Gauff hopes coaching shake-up will bring instant success in New York
After a triumphant French Open but inconsistent performances on grass and hard courts, Coco Gauff arrives at the U.S. Open hoping to rediscover her 2023 title-winning form, now under new guidance after splitting with her coach days before the event. With Matthew Daly no longer in the picture, the 21-year-old will lean heavily on longtime mentor Jean-Christophe Faurel in New York, and is looking to address the issues with her serve with the addition of biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan. That facet of Gauff's game has been a glaring weakness, yielding a tour-high 320 double faults this season, including 42 across just three matches at this month's Canadian Open. The shake-up follows an inconsistent period during which Gauff has won just four single matches since winning Roland Garros in May. A first-round exit at Wimbledon to Dayana Yastremska, and subsequent losses to Victoria Mboko and Jasmine Paolini in Canada and Cincinnati saw her slip from world number two to three. The American has been candid about the sport's highs and lows, and despite her recent struggles she was confident in her ability to turn things around. "No one calls my season bad because I won Roland Garros, and for people, winning a Grand Slam more or less defines whether you've had a successful season or not," Gauff told reporters after her Cincinnati quarter-final exit. "Sometimes tennis fans want us to win like every week. But we're playing 11 months. It's not that easy. "It's completely normal for a player to have a good 3-4 weeks, then maybe a not-so-good 3-4 weeks just because of the way our season is built." Gauff now returns to the site of her breakthrough major victory in 2023, looking to add a third Grand Slam trophy to her cabinet. With a strong mindset, elite athleticism and experience of playing for the biggest prizes in the sport, Gauff is widely seen as a future world number one and bold moves like reshaping her coaching team on the eve of a major could be exactly what propels her there. "It's very surprising that a top player would do that right before a major," analyst Patrick McEnroe noted ahead of the tournament. "But one of the things you've got to love with Coco Gauff is she wants to get better."
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Gauff hopes coaching shake-up will bring instant success in New York
Aug 21 (Reuters) - After a triumphant French Open but inconsistent performances on grass and hard courts, Coco Gauff arrives at the U.S. Open hoping to rediscover her 2023 title-winning form, now under new guidance after splitting with her coach days before the event. With Matthew Daly no longer in the picture, the 21-year-old will lean heavily on longtime mentor Jean-Christophe Faurel in New York, and is looking to address the issues with her serve with the addition of biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan. That facet of Gauff's game has been a glaring weakness, yielding a tour-high 320 double faults this season, including 42 across just three matches at this month's Canadian Open. The shake-up follows an inconsistent period during which Gauff has won just four single matches since winning Roland Garros in May. A first-round exit at Wimbledon to Dayana Yastremska, and subsequent losses to Victoria Mboko and Jasmine Paolini in Canada and Cincinnati saw her slip from world number two to three. The American has been candid about the sport's highs and lows, and despite her recent struggles she was confident in her ability to turn things around. "No one calls my season bad because I won Roland Garros, and for people, winning a Grand Slam more or less defines whether you've had a successful season or not," Gauff told reporters after her Cincinnati quarter-final exit. "Sometimes tennis fans want us to win like every week. But we're playing 11 months. It's not that easy. "It's completely normal for a player to have a good 3-4 weeks, then maybe a not-so-good 3-4 weeks just because of the way our season is built." Gauff now returns to the site of her breakthrough major victory in 2023, looking to add a third Grand Slam trophy to her cabinet. With a strong mindset, elite athleticism and experience of playing for the biggest prizes in the sport, Gauff is widely seen as a future world number one and bold moves like reshaping her coaching team on the eve of a major could be exactly what propels her there. "It's very surprising that a top player would do that right before a major," analyst Patrick McEnroe noted ahead of the tournament. "But one of the things you've got to love with Coco Gauff is she wants to get better."
The Guardian
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Coco Gauff parts ways with her coach days before US Open campaign
Coco Gauff has reportedly split with coach Matthew Daly just days before the start of the US Open, making another shakeup to her support team on the eve of the year's final major. The move was first reported by Bounces. The world No 3 and two-time major champion will continue to work with her longtime coach Jean-Christophe Faurel but has added biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan to her corner. MacMillan was spotted with Gauff during a Wednesday practice session at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. MacMillan previously worked with Aryna Sabalenka, helping the world No 1 overcome her serving yips in 2022 and refine her forehand. Gauff has struggled with her own serve this summer, notably hitting 42 double faults in three matches at the Canadian Open earlier this month. Daly, a grip specialist, confirmed his departure after a little more than a year in the role. He joined Gauff's team last autumn after she parted ways with Brad Gilbert, focusing on altering her grip and adjusting technical details. The changes initially paid off: Gauff captured the China Open title and closed 2024 by winning the WTA Finals. This season she added a second major at the French Open and reached the finals at both Madrid and Rome. But inconsistency has returned in recent months. Since her Paris triumph she has won just four singles matches, including a surprise first-round exit at Wimbledon. Daly, speaking to Bounces, said only: 'Only have good things to say about Coco, enjoyed working with her.' Gauff, 21, has yet to publicly comment on the staff changes. She is due to play in a Thursday night exhibition at Arthur Ashe Stadium before the US Open singles begins on Sunday.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coco Gauff shakes up coaching staff ahead of US Open, fires Matt Daly and replaces him with former Aryna Sabalenka coach
Coco Gauff has fired a member of her coaching staff, Matt Daly, days ahead of the start of the US Open. She's replaced him with Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics specialist who's credited with having helped Aryna Sabalenka fix her serve and rise to the No. 1 ranking in the world, The Athletic reports. Daly confirmed his dismissal on Wednesday to tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg. 'Only have good things to say about Coco, enjoyed working with her,' Gauff told Rothenberg. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Gauff hired Daly, a grip specialist, to work on her serve and forehand after she fired then-coach Brad Gilbert following a disappointing fourth-round exit at the 2024 US Open on the heels of her victory at the tournament in 2023. Daly worked with Gauff as she won the French Open this summer, claiming her second career Grand Slam tournament victory. But Gauff has struggled since that win. She followed up her French Open victory with a stunning first-round loss at Wimbledon. She recently lost in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open, the final hardcourt warmup ahead of the US Open. Per Rothenberg and The Athletic, MacMillan and Gauff's longtime coach Jean-Christophe Faurel were both working with Gauff on Wednesday at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in New York. A member of Gauff's team confirmed the coaching transactions to The Athletic. Gauff had not addressed the shakeup as of early Wednesday. Gauff enters the US Open as the No. 3-ranked player in the world behind No. 1 Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Świątek, who was victorious at the Cincinnati Open. Singles play at the US Open is scheduled to start Sunday. The US Open draw will be announced Thursday.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coco Gauff parts ways with coach days before US Open campaign
Coco Gauff has reportedly split with coach Matthew Daly just days before the start of the US Open, making another shakeup to her support team on the eve of the year's final major. The move was first reported by Bounces. The world No 3 and two-time major champion will continue to work with her longtime coach Jean-Christophe Faurel but has added biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan to her corner. MacMillan was spotted with Gauff during a Wednesday practice session at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. MacMillan previously worked with Aryna Sabalenka, helping the world No 1 overcome her serving yips in 2022 and refine her forehand. Gauff has struggled with her own serve this summer, notably hitting 42 double faults in three matches at the Canadian Open earlier this month. Daly, a grip specialist, confirmed his departure after a little more than a year in the role. He joined Gauff's team last autumn after she parted ways with Brad Gilbert, focusing on altering her grip and adjusting technical details. The changes initially paid off: Gauff captured the China Open title and closed 2024 by winning the WTA Finals. This season she added a second major at the French Open and reached the finals at both Madrid and Rome. But inconsistency has returned in recent months. Since her Paris triumph she has won just four singles matches, including a surprise first-round exit at Wimbledon. Daly, speaking to reporters, said only: 'Only have good things to say about Coco, enjoyed working with her.' Gauff, 21, has yet to publicly comment on the staff changes. She is due to play in a Thursday night exhibition at Arthur Ashe Stadium before the US Open singles begins on Sunday.
