World No 3 Coco Gauff has split with coach Matthew Daly in an eyebrow-raising mix-up to her coaching set–up.
With the decision coming just days before the US Open, the 2023 champion will enter her home Grand Slam with a new-look team in her corner, although she will continue to have the presence of long-term coach Jean-Christophe Faurel with her.
Gauff has also brought in biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, with the pair seen practising together in New York on Wednesday ahead of the final major of the season.
MacMillan was the mastermind behind Sabalenka’s well-documented service transformation, turning her notorious double-faulting weakness into one of the most reliable and formidable serves on the WTA Tour.
Gauff has experienced similar service woes across the early course of her career, with the issue resurfacing in recent weeks across the US hard-court swing.
While the American will have little time for her work with MacMillan to bear much fruit at the US Open, this is clearly an appointment designed with the long-term project in mind of a service motion reconstruction.
“Gavin became available. I just felt this was the best decision for my game and I had to go with what I was feeling,” said Gauff of the decision.
“Matt is a great coach, a great person, and I love working with him. We had a very successful partnership, but I’m just looking at the long term.”
The American gets her US Open campaign underway against world No 85 Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round in New York on Monday.
