Coco Gauff was always bound to be a hot topic of conversation with the US Open just around the corner, but one decision she has recently made has left the entire tennis world talking about her.
After all, despite being viewed as one of the favourites to challenge for the women’s crown, she made the bold decision to part ways with her coach in favour of biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan.
Famed for fixing Aryna Sabalenka’s struggling serve two years ago, the hope is that he can work his magic on an area of Coco Gauff’s game that has plagued her for months now.
Few are debating the decision; it is just the timing which has raised a few eyebrows.
Well, she has now sought to shed some light on the reasoning behind her swift switch around.
Coco Gauff explains why she hired Gavin MacMillan before the US Open
Speaking at her pre-US Open press conference, she began by admitting: “Yeah, it was, like, a very sudden decision.
“Gavin became available. I just felt this was the best decision for my game at least and I had to go with what I was feeling. Matt, I think Matt is a great coach and a great person and 100% love working with him. Yeah, I mean, we obviously had a very successful partnership, but I’m just looking at long term.
I know Gavin has had experience with this before so, hoping I can just take on his knowledge and see what can happen.”
Asked if it might be difficult to adopt such radical changes during a Grand Slam, Gauff continued: “I mean, a tournament is a tournament. I hate losing regardless of where I am. If this was a 250, I would feel just as crazy to do it.
“Yeah, I felt this was a good opportunity. I don’t have that many points to defend honestly in this part of the season. I’m one of those people, I’m looking at long term. I hope I can get it all together – I think I’ll play either Monday or Tuesday – by then. If not, I have the rest of this year to work on it.
“But I do know I needed to make a change, technical change to it, and I don’t want to waste time continuing doing the wrong things.”
She finished by revealing how MacMillan reacted to being asked to join her team at such an odd time. The reporter wondered whether he might have been somewhat apprehensive.
Gauff was staunch in her stance: “No, he’s a confident person. Also, I mean, no, I mean, obviously there is pressure on both of us. But at the same time, I mean, I’m not thinking about the outside opinions. I’m not thinking about that. I’m doing what’s best for my game.
“I feel as an athlete I can be, Yeah, I won French Open, made two finals back to back, quarters of Australia. I can be, Okay, I’m doing fine and continuing playing the way that I’m playing. But I know where I want to see my game in the future. I’m not going to waste time playing the way I don’t want to play.”
With this in mind, it’s worth remembering the key changes MacMillan made to Sabalenka’s serve that turned her into the ultimate champion.
Coco Gauff’s road to the 2025 US Open final
With the US Open draw having been released, Gauff and the rest of the tennis tour have learned their respective fates.
The 2023 champion’s campaign will get underway with a tricky first-round clash against Ajla Tomljanovic, before facing either Donna Vekic or Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
This marks a tough start for the 21-year-old, with the seeded Magdalena Frech expected to meet her in the third round.
Naomi Osaka should then be her fourth-round opponent, before getting to the business end of the event.
Being in Iga Swiatek’s half of the draw, they can only meet in the semi-finals at the earliest, before Aryna Sabalenka will surely be looming in the final.
