Coco Gauff has been on fire lately! From her title-winning runs at the China Open and the WTA Finals in Riyadh to leading her team to glory at the United Cup, the American sensation is serving up magic both on and off the court. But here’s a twist: there might just be a secret sauce behind this streak of brilliance. Turns out, there was a major shake-up in her team last September. Yep, you guessed it. Coco made a bold move, parting ways with Brad Gilbert and teaming up with Matt Daly. And ever since, she’s been unstoppable. So, is Daly the mastermind behind her dazzling transformation?

The American tennis sensation is playing her first Grand Slam under her new coach who joined Jean-Christophe “JC” Faurel after Gilbert’s departure. The duo seems to have been working wonders for the star player. One such example of this came to light in the lead-up to the 2025 Australian Open. Gauff participated in an exhibition match with Andrey Rublev in the Rod Laver Arena where her serves consistently approached an impressive 200 kph (125 mph) mark. And when lauded for her performance, Gauff’s response flaunted her open confidence. 

When Hall of Famer Lleyton Hewitt praised the American star for her powerful serve, she replied, “Thanks. I’ve been working on it.” This not only highlights her own dedication but also the feedback and that she has been receiving from her coach. Notably, the duo of Daly and JC are stressing on different aspects of the games of the star player, about which she herself acknowledged. 

“It’s been a tremendous collaboration. JC has really enhanced my footwork and shot selection, while Matt has contributed significantly to the technical aspects, particularly focusing on my serve,” Gauff shared earlier. And her improvement was in fact acknowledged by her arch-rival Iga Swiatek as well, who claimed, “She’s definitely improving.” A massive example of this was their clash at the WTA finals and the United Cup, where Coco Gauff baffled her Polish counterpart to reduce the head-to-head tally which once stood 11-1 in the Pole’s favor. And interestingly, the changes are not just hypothetical but are also witnessed in the stats. 

This year, Gauff has played 6 matches so far and has fired 22 aces already. Her first-serve win percentage stands at 74.6%, a substantial rise from 71.8% compared to the last year. Besides, there is an evident decline in Gauff’s double faults as well. Remember, the star player fired 430 double faults in 71 matches she played last year, taking her average to over 6 faults per match. One of the most unexpected moments came during the Wuhan Open semi-finals when Gauff delivered 21-double faults while playing against Sabalenka. However, the number has reduced sharply with her current average standing at less than 4, as Gauff fired 23 double faults in the 6 matches she has played so far. And this reflects that Daly is doing exactly what Gauff expected him to do. 

Speaking about her new coach after splitting up with Gilbert, “There are other parts of my game that I want to work on, too, but the focus right now is the serve. When I serve well, I play pretty well. For me, that’s the basis for my game.” The results seem to be positive for the duo. And it is probably for this reason, that the star player is not just beaming with confidence ahead for the Australian Open, but is also showing some great maturity.

Coco Gauff amalgamates maturity and confidence for the Australian Open

Coco Gauff’s performance over the years has continued to prove that age is just a number. At just 20, she has achieved success that has remained a dream for many players on tour. And now, the latest improvements, painstakingly put together with the advice she has received from her coaches, seems to have further boosted her confidence.

Speaking after her run at the United Cup, the American star said, “Obviously this start of the season gives me a lot of confidence. I feel like when I’m playing confident tennis, I’m playing great tennis. I definitely feel confident going into AO.” In yet another interview, she made her aspirations clear and said, “I think for all of us the main focus is the Australian Open and doing well there.” Clearly, Gauff is taking things maturely and focusing on improving overall as a player. 

“It would be fantastic to walk away with the Australian Open trophy. However, I’ve learned not to impose excessive pressure on myself for specific events, instead focusing on my development and performance, which alleviates the stress,” Gauff shared thoughtfully. With her new coaching team by her side, Coco Gauff has unlocked a level of consistency and brilliance that’s taken her game to extraordinary heights. As she continues her run at the Australian Open, it will be interesting to see if she can display her dominant skills in Melbourne as well and add yet another title to her glorious crown.