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Coco Gauff splits with key coach on eve of U.S. Open, practices with serve expert
Coco Gauff has hit the panic button, five days before the start of the U.S. Open.
Gauff, the world No. 3, has parted ways with grip expert Matt Daly, who she hired at the end of last year's U.S. Open to strengthen her serve and forehand, two of the most important shots in tennis. She has brought on Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics specialist who helped rescue world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka's serve. MacMillan was on court with Gauff during practice at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center Wednesday, alongside her longtime coach Jean-Christophe Faurel.
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A representative for Gauff confirmed the change, first reported by ESPN. MacMillan was not immediately available for comment.
After a period of upturn in late 2024 and early 2025, Gauff's serving troubles have returned. She hit 42 double faults in three matches during the WTA 1000 Canadian Open in Montreal, one rung below a Grand Slam, before hitting 16 in a quarterfinal defeat to Jasmine Paolini at the Cincinnati Open.
It was last year's U.S. Open exit to compatriot Emma Navarro, which also featured a string of double faults, that led Gauff to say that she didn't want to lose that way any longer. She fired coach Brad Gilbert, with whom she had won the title in New York in 2023, and brought in Daly. The partnership seemed to work, but the results have not held of late.
Jason Stacy, one of Sabalenka's lead coaches, brought in MacMillan in summer 2022 to fix a serve that was producing more than 20 double faults in matches. He got immediate results, as Sabalenka's double faults plummeted and she reached the semifinals of that year's U.S. Open. She has since gone on to win three majors on her route to the top ranking in women's tennis.
The U.S. Open singles main draws begin Sunday Aug. 24.
This story will be updated.
(Photo of Coco Gauff: Daniel Kopatsch / Getty Images)
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