Coco Gauff clarifies stance on whether she’ll keep her new coach despite challenging form

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Coco Gauff brought in Gavin MacMillan after the 2025 US Open, hoping he could help sort out her well-documented serving problems.

The American recorded more double faults than anyone else on the WTA Tour in 2025, and it is a problem that has not gone away this year either.

Gauff had a disappointing start to her Qatar Open campaign, losing in straight sets to Elisabetta Cocciaretto. And before taking part in the Dubai Tennis Championships, she was asked whether she planned to stick with MacMillan going forward.

Coco Gauff believes her game is heading in the right direction despite recent setbacks

Gauff answered the question regarding MacMillan, saying: “I feel like I’m trusting the process. I mean, I’m very tough on myself.

“It is easy to look at this and be like, I’m doing so bad. When I look at all my seasons, maybe it’s something I need to fix, but in all my seasons, I just haven’t done well here.

“I’m trying to figure out the recipe. Also in all fairness to this part of the swing, I think most players would agree they want to peak at the Grand Slams.

“For most of them – I still have to figure out Wimbledon – I have been doing that. It’s a learning process. I think my serve is improving.

“I feel more comfortable going after it. The doubles are definitely less this year. I just have to trust that.”

Gauff has not won a title yet in 2026, with her best result being a quarter-final run at the Australian Open.

Coco Gauff’s history at the Dubai Tennis Championships

Gauff is set to make her sixth consecutive appearance at the Dubai Tennis Championships, having first competed in 2021.

While she has yet to win the tournament, her results have been a mix of highs and lows. The 21-year-old American has reached both the quarter-finals and semi-finals during that span but has also lost twice in the opening round.

Last year, Gauff was knocked out in straight sets by fellow American McCartney Kessler in the second round.

This time around, she will open against either Anna Kalinskaya or Jelena Ostapenko after receiving a first-round bye.