Coco Gauff, the rising American tennis star, has embarked on a new chapter in her career with coach Matt Daly, and one of the key areas of focus has been experimenting with grip changes. Gauff revealed that she has been implementing these changes since their partnership began ahead of the China Open.
Daly, a former world No. 2, has a reputation for expertise in grip modifications, having successfully implemented them with multiple top 100 ATP players. Gauff, eager to improve her serve, has embraced Daly’s guidance in this area.
“He has a lot of expertise in that area,” Gauff said. “Honestly, not just that. He does really good at tactical stuff, mental side, too.”
Gauff’s desire for change stemmed from a successful 14-month stint with coach Brad Gilbert, during which she won four titles and her first major trophy at the US Open. However, struggles on serve emerged earlier this year and resurfaced at the US Open, where she committed 19 double faults in her fourth-round loss.
With Daly, Gauff has prioritized stabilizing her serve, which has been evident in her recent performances. She won the Beijing title, her first since January, and has made a strong start in Wuhan, reaching the quarterfinals without dropping a set.
While open to adjusting her natural grip, Gauff emphasized that she is not seeking to imitate any particular player. Instead, she aims to enhance her existing game.
“I know people who don’t really play tennis think there’s a right way to hold the racquet…but if you look at all the people playing on tour, we all hold the racquets differently,” she said.
“Everybody has their own comfort zone. There’s no right way to do it. You have to do what’s comfortable.”
Gauff’s next challenge will be against frequent practice partner Magda Linette in the quarterfinals of the Wuhan Open.
