Some very interesting news from the world of tennis.
Coaching Change Ahead of New York
World No. 3 Coco Gauff has cut ties with coach Matthew Daly just days before the start of the US Open in New York. The timing has turned heads, as the 20-year-old enters the tournament as one of the favorites and the defending 2023 champion.
Coco Gauff splits with Coach Matthew Daly days before US Open
Daly confirmed the split to tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg earlier this week, saying only that the move happened “recently” and that he had “nothing but good things to say about Coco.” He left further comment to Gauff, who has yet to make her own formal statement.
Daly’s Impact and Gauff’s Progress
Gauff brought Daly on board last year following her exit at the US Open under longtime mentor Brad Gilbert. Daly, well-known as a grip expert, teamed up with Jean-Christophe Faurel to fine-tune Gauff’s serve and tactical approach.
The results came quickly. Gauff captured the China Open and ended 2024 by winning the WTA Finals. This year, under Daly and Faurel, she lifted her second career major at Roland Garros and reached finals in both Madrid and Rome. She also picked up a doubles crown in Canada earlier this month with McCartney Kessler.
The Struggle on Serve
Despite her success, inconsistency on serve has haunted Gauff since her French Open victory. She has managed just four match wins across her last four events. On Wednesday, she was spotted practicing in New York with Faurel and biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan, who previously worked with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to overhaul her own serve.
What Comes Next
For now, Gauff has not named a replacement for Daly. She is scheduled to take part in an exhibition at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night before the US Open main draw begins Sunday. With her title defense looming, all eyes will be on how she handles the quick transition without one of her key coaches at her side.
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