Key Points:
- Serve Overhaul: Gauff hired expert Gavin MacMillan to fix her double faults before the U.S. Open.
- First-Round Win: She beat Ajla Tomljanović, trading serve speed for control.
- Career Move: Mid-tournament changes aim to boost long-term consistency and dominance.
Just days before stepping onto the court at the U.S. Open, Coco Gauff made a bold move that few players at her level would dare. She split with her coach and brought in biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, best known for his work on improving Aryna Sabalenka’s serve. Gauff’s decision stemmed from her long-standing struggles with double faults, an issue that has plagued her throughout the season.
For the 20-year-old, the choice to revamp her technique so close to a Grand Slam was less about timing and more about necessity. “I don’t want to waste time continuing to do the wrong things,” she explained, acknowledging the steep challenge of making technical changes under the spotlight of Flushing Meadows.
First-Round Battle and Signs of Progress
Her opening-round clash against Ajla Tomljanović was a stern test of both her patience and her new mechanics. The nearly three-hour contest ended in Coco Gauff’s favor, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5, but it was anything but smooth. She committed 59 unforced errors and 10 double faults—numbers still high but markedly improved compared to previous matches where her serve faltered more dramatically.
What stood out was Gauff’s willingness to sacrifice speed for control. Her average first-serve velocity dropped from over 107 mph in prior tournaments to just under 96 mph at the U.S. Open. The slower pace was a deliberate trade-off as she focused on ingraining new motion patterns. At times, old habits resurfaced—particularly when she double-faulted twice while serving for the match—but her resilience carried her through. After being broken, she steadied herself, broke back immediately, and closed out the win with determination.
A Career Gamble in Motion
Coco Gauff’s decision to overhaul her serve mid-tournament highlights the pressure she feels to fix the one element holding her back from dominance. Leading the tour in double faults for the past two years, she knows her second serve is both a liability and a target for opponents. By addressing it now, she hopes to secure a long-term edge, even if it means enduring early turbulence.
Tennis experts believe that her willingness to confront this weakness could define her trajectory. Many players wait until the offseason to attempt technical overhauls, but Coco Gauff has chosen to endure the growing pains in real time, in front of thousands of fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Her physical gifts, mental toughness, and tireless athleticism have already carried her to a Grand Slam title, but solving the serve puzzle could unlock a new level of consistency and dominance.
Looking ahead, she faces Donna Vekić in the second round, a familiar opponent who beat her earlier this summer. That match will test not only Coco Gauff’s form but also her resolve to stick with her new mechanics under pressure. For now, her journey at the U.S. Open is about more than just advancing through the draw—it is about redefining her game at the most crucial stage of her young career.
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