World No. 3 Coco Gauff has made a surprising and decisive move just before the start of the 2025 U.S. Open-parting ways with both of her longtime coaches, Matt Daly and Jean-Christophe Faurel.
The 21-year-old, seeking a reset after a string of disappointing results, has brought on Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics specialist, to take over her coaching duties.
Daly and Faurel have been instrumental in Gauff’s rise since her teenage years. Faurel helped nurture her mental resilience, while Daly fine-tuned her technical foundations, especially her grip and serving mechanics. Together, they guided her to major milestones, including a U.S. Open title in 2023 and a French Open crown earlier this year.
However, since her triumph in Paris, Gauff has struggled to find consistency. She suffered a first-round exit at Wimbledon, followed by another early departure at the National Bank Open in Montreal.
Most recently, she was defeated in the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals by Jasmine Paolini despite a promising start. Notably, Gauff committed 16 double faults in that match, an issue that has plagued her throughout the season.
So far in 2025, Gauff holds a 35-12 record, but her post-French Open performance stands at 5-4, raising concerns about her current form heading into the final Grand Slam of the year.
A new technical approach
Gavin MacMillan, Gauff’s new coach, is well-known for his scientific and data-driven approach. As the founder of the Sport Science Lab, MacMillan has worked across multiple sports and was previously credited with helping Aryna Sabalenka rise to No. 1 in the world.
His strength lies in breaking down movement and technique through biomechanics – a fitting choice for Gauff, whose second serve and forehand have recently become liabilities under pressure.
Analysts and former coaches, including Rick Macci, have emphasized the urgency of correcting these flaws before they begin to define her game. Macci has warned that Gauff is at a “career crossroads,” where adjustments are no longer optional but essential for sustaining her elite status.
Beyond the technical issues, Gauff has also opened up about the immense pressure she faces to perform at the highest level. The weight of expectations, both internal and external, has contributed to emotional fatigue, something she hopes a fresh perspective can help her manage better.
With MacMillan now in her corner, Gauff aims to put recent disappointments behind her and mount a serious title defense at the U.S. Open. This new coaching direction marks a pivotal chapter in her career, one that will test both her adaptability and resilience on tennis’s biggest stage.
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