Coco Gauff has made a big change to her coaching team just days before this year’s US Open gets underway.
The two-time Grand Slam champion has stopped working with coach Matt Daly, whom she hired shortly after the conclusion of last year’s US Open. Former college tennis player Daly is known as a footwork and grip technique specialist who has also worked with Denis Shapovalov. He confirmed his departure to journalist Ben Rothenberg, who is the founder of Bounces.
“Only have good things to say about Coco, enjoyed working with her,” he said.
Gauff’s shake-up comes after a mixed North American hardcourt swing where she reached the fourth round of the Canadian Open, followed by the quarter-finals in Cincinnati. At both of those tournaments, she has at times struggled with her serve and ended up producing double faults. She hit 23 double faults in her opening match in Canada alone.
The person who has replaced Daly in Gauff’s team has been named as Gavin MacMillan, who is best known for helping improve Aryna Sabalenka’s service technique in the early part of 2024 when the Belarussian was having similar issues. MacMillian is the founder of Sport Science Lab, which specializes in athlete training.
“A lot of things add up and this could be a really good relationship,” Forbes quoted Darren Cahill as saying on Wednesday during a live ESPN broadcast.
“He’s very thorough ….I’ve spoken to him many, many times before and the fact that he’s got experience with different athletes from different sports, both male and female, he uses the new technology, he goes to the video a lot, really breaks down the biomechanics.”
According to Forbes, JC Faurel is still a member of the team. Meanwhile, Chris Eubanks was spotted on court talking to Gauff’s father during a training session, but there is currently no information that suggests he will also be part of the team.
“He’s always got her best interests at heart, so he’s a great friend of Coco’s,” Cahill said of Eubanks.
Gauff has played in three WTA finals so far this season with all of those being at clay court events. The only title she has won in 2025 is the French Open, where she beat Sabalenka in three sets. The last hardcourt event she won was back in November at the WTA Finals.
The American is seeded second at the US Open, which she won two years ago. She is yet to comment on the departure of Daly.
