Coco Gauff has shaken up her coaching team in search of a renewed edge as she heads into the China Open. The 20-year-old American announced the end of her partnership with Brad Gilbert after the US Open and has added Matt Daly to coach alongside her long-time coach, Jean-Christophe ('JC') Faurel. This coaching shakeup comes after Gauff experienced a dip in form during the summer, failing to replicate the success she enjoyed in 2023, a year that saw her win her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open.

Gauff has openly spoken about her desire to ‘refresh’ her game and her desire to improve her serving, which has become a point of weakness this year. “There are other parts of my game that I want to work on too, but the focus right now is the serve,” Gauff told WTA Insider. “When I serve well, I play pretty well. For me, that’s the basis for my game.”

The American is looking to end the season on a strong note and secure a spot at the WTA Finals for the third straight year. “I’ve never felt the pressure to make the Finals except the first year when I was trying to make it,” Gauff said. “This year, it would be great to qualify and experience an organized Finals, but I’m also not trying to put too much pressure because this is a new coaching setup and I’m adding things. This tournament, we started a pre-season early, in a way.”

Gauff, seeded No. 4 in Beijing, will face France's Clara Burel in her opening match later this week. Her performance at the China Open will be closely watched as the tennis world assesses whether this new coaching setup will unlock her full potential.

Gauff's Coaching Shuffle

Gauff's decision to part ways with Brad Gilbert after 14 months was a surprise to many. The veteran coach, who has previously worked with Andre Agassi, Andy Murray, and Andy Roddick, was instrumental in Gauff's success last year. Under Gilbert, Gauff enjoyed a breakout summer in 2023, winning titles in Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati before capturing her first Grand Slam title at the US Open.

However, Gauff's form dipped in the spring and summer of 2024, leading to early exits from Wimbledon, the Summer Olympic Games, and the US Open. Her serving woes were particularly evident at the US Open, where she hit 11 double faults in the third set alone.

This marked a significant departure from the momentum Gauff had built up in 2023, and a sign that a change was needed. “I think it was just time to do a reset, a refresh, and add some things in my game that I felt like I need to do to have a better season next year,” Gauff said, explaining her decision to move on from Gilbert.

A New Chapter with Matt Daly

Gauff's new coaching team features Matt Daly alongside her long-time coach, Jean-Christophe ('JC') Faurel. Daly, a former coach of ATP former No. 10 Denis Shapovalov, brings a wealth of experience to the team. Gauff has already begun working with Daly and has expressed optimism about the positive impact he's having on her game, particularly her serve.

“Already, the little bit we’ve done has made a drastic improvement to where I was three weeks ago,” Gauff shared. “At this point, there’s not a crazy amount, like going through a whole technique change or resetting everything. It’s just subtle things that, doing it for a week now, will help me.”

The China Open will serve as a crucial test for Gauff and her new coaching team. It will be a chance for Gauff to showcase the adjustments she has made and assess their effectiveness in match conditions. As she strives to regain her winning form, the tennis world will be watching closely to see if this coaching shuffle is the key to unlocking Gauff’s full potential.

Gauff’s Next Steps: Ready to Bounce Back

Gauff is approaching the China Open with a fresh outlook and a renewed focus on her serve. She is confident that the changes she has made, both on and off the court, will help her finish the season on a strong note and build momentum for the next year. Her goal is to reassert herself as a dominant force on the WTA tour and reclaim her place among the game’s elite players.

Whether this new coaching setup will lead to Gauff's long-term success remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Gauff is determined to bounce back and continue her ascent to the top of the tennis world.