Coco Gauff has enlisted Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics expert who helped Aryna Sabalenka address her serving woes, to overhaul Gauff’s motion and bring greater consistency to her serve as she heads into the US Open season.
The Belleville-born standout has been battling a high volume of double faults. A Montreal second-round match saw her rack up 23 double faults, followed by 14 more in a subsequent outing, undermining otherwise solid play. Earlier, at the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals, she served up 16 more misfires against Jasmine Paolini, a result that underscored the unsustainability of her current serving form. In 48 matches this year, Gauff’s total doubles approach 320, equating to an average of roughly seven per match.
The collaboration with MacMillan represents a notable shift. Gauff described the decision as sudden but necessary, noting that MacMillan’s prior success in addressing Sabalenka’s serve gave her confidence to take a different path. The plan is to apply a revised technique and higher-repetition approach to her service motion, with the new team member Matt Daly stepping back in favor of MacMillan. Gauff is set to debut the changes in New York against Ajla Tomljanovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Sabalenka storyline provides a blueprint. In 2022, Sabalenka logged a high number of double faults but found a way to adapt after working with MacMillan. Sabalenka highlighted that the fixes centered on mechanics—specifically, the position and timing of her left arm during the serve and how it influenced the right shoulder. The transformation has translated into a more reliable serve this season, even as her ace total remains strong.
Gauff has a history of evolving her coaching setup. She previously partnered with Brad Gilbert, who helped propel her to a standout summer in 2023 and a US Open title, and more recently brought in Daly, who sparked a rapid resurgence with success in Asia and the Riyadh Finals. The current adjustment comes at a time when the 21-year-old is balancing short-term results with long-term development, recognizing that making technical changes mid-season is challenging but potentially decisive for her Grand Slam aspirations.
Analysts have voiced cautious optimism. ESPN’s Darren Cahill, who mentors Jannik Sinner on the ATP Tour, praised the move, suggesting it could yield a strong working relationship and tangible benefit for Gauff’s game.
Gauff remains focused on the bigger picture. She acknowledged the pressure of making a technical adjustment so close to major events but emphasized a commitment to improvement and the belief that the changes could help “bring everything together” for her game. With a clear long-term plan and a proven track record from Sabalenka’s side, there is cautious optimism that Gauff’s serve could mature into a more reliable weapon as she continues to chase titles and consistency.
What to watch next:
– How quickly Gauff adapts to MacMillan’s adjustments in match play.
– Any early signs of reduced double faults and improved serve reliability in upcoming rounds.
– Sabalenka’s ongoing results as a potential benchmark for the anticipated progress.
Additional note:
– The focus on technique over quick fixes reflects a broader trend among top players who seek durable improvements through biomechanics, reinforcing that progress in tennis often comes from steady, repeatable changes rather than “quick fix” tweaks.
Summary:
Coco Gauff has taken a strategic step by bringing in a biomechanics specialist to refine her serving mechanics after a run of double faults, drawing on Sabalenka’s successful experience with the same coach. The move signals a belief in long-term improvement and the potential to translate a more dependable serve into better results in the high-stakes major tournaments ahead.