Follow us on Google Discover Coco Gauff is currently enjoying time away from the WTA Tour ahead of another appearance at the WTA Finals.
Gauff has returned home following a successful Asian swing, during which the American star won the Wuhan Open.
The trophy arrived after a semifinal run at the China Open, which the 21-year-old entered on the back of the US Open.
Plenty of eyes were on the 2023 US Open champion, but Gauff fell in the round of 16 to former WTA number one Naomi Osaka.
She surprised many heading into the Grand Slam, having both fired her coach Matt Daly and appointed biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesCoco Gauff states what she has learned from Novak Djokovic from his early career
Gauff has now looked back on her time in New York and the decision to hire MacMillan, explaining how she has taken notes from 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
The world number three told The National: “I was looking at Novak and he’s someone who didn’t have as great of a serve in the beginning of his career, obviously different issue than me, but he just wasn’t serving as strong.
“And he made that change and has gone on to obviously be Novak Djokovic. And even at that time, he was still like a successful player.
“So yeah, I’ve drawn on those experiences. And obviously Aryna [Sabalenka] and Venus [Williams] and those who’ve done those changes.
“I think [Lorenzo] Musetti, even recently, we were at US Open on the court, sharing the court together, both of us serving, we both changed our serve recently and we were laughing about it.
“So yeah, just seeing that other players, it’s just inspiring knowing tennis is won by small margins and those little differences make a difference. And I know if I want to get to the scale that I want to get to, I have to make those changes.”
Coco Gauff: I was looking at Novak, he’s someone who didn’t have as great of a serve in the beginning of his career, obviously different issue than me, but he just wasn’t serving as strong. And he made that change and has gone on to obv be Novak Djokovic.https://t.co/IZxz6D2Q6V
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) October 20, 2025
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Coco Gauff says if she made the right decision to hire Gavin MacMillan just before the US Open
Gauff’s serving struggles have involved double faults in particular, with the American having hit 405 this season, more than any other player.
In contrast, Djokovic is among the top five servers on the ATP Tour in 2025, while he’s ranked fourth for % service games won.
READ MORE: Roger Federer’s former coach says what Coco Gauff is better at than any other player on the WTA Tour
Serving icon John Isner commended Gauff for hiring MacMillan just before the US Open, with the player herself now looking back on that major decision.
She said: “Obviously US Open, that tournament was super tough for me mentally, but I definitely think it was the right decision, even though I maybe wouldn’t have got the result that I hoped for.
“But in the long run, I’m going to look back and be happy that I made that decision in that moment of time.”
MatchesAcesDouble faults1st serve %1st serve points %2nd serve points %Serve points wonBreak point %Service games won6117840561.7 %68.5%43.2%58.8%53.1%68.8%Coco Gauff’s 2025 serving stats (WTA Tour stats)
Andy Roddick thinks Gauff’s serve wasn’t the problem against Osaka, despite the third seed hitting five double faults.
She has, however, managed to clinch an 11th WTA title since then, and is in a strong position to compete for another at the WTA Finals next month.