Coco Gauff, the world No. 3 and two-time Grand Slam champion, is riding a wave of success in 2025, but a subtle adjustment to her forehand could propel her even further, according to renowned coach Rick Macci. Fresh off her French Open title and a gritty performance at the National Bank Open in Montreal, where she overcame 23 double faults to defeat Danielle Collins 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(2) on July 30, 2025, Gauff’s game is under scrutiny as she prepares for the US Open. Macci, who once coached Serena and Venus Williams, believes that refining her forehand grip could be the key to elevating her to new heights. “If Coco had an ATP forehand with style she would go the extra mile,” Macci posted on social media, suggesting that with the “right tweak,” Gauff could rewire her forehand in less than a week, complementing her already elite second serve and ground game.
Gauff’s 2025 season has been a showcase of her resilience and versatility. The 21-year-old American, who burst onto the scene by defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019 at age 15, has solidified her status as a tennis superstar. Her titles at the 2023 US Open, 2024 WTA Finals, and 2025 French Open—where she outlasted Aryna Sabalenka in a windy final—have cemented her as a force. “Mentally, she is beyond elite, and that is the key reason she is hard to beat,” Macci said, praising her unmatched court coverage and athleticism. Gauff’s ability to turn defense into offense, as seen in her Montreal win over Veronika Kudermetova despite 14 additional double faults, underscores her competitive spirit. “I felt that I was playing well except that part of my game,” Gauff said of her serve, noting her strong groundstrokes kept her in the match.
The forehand issue Macci highlights stems from Gauff’s heavy Western grip, which, while effective for topspin, can lead to inconsistent timing and vulnerability against aggressive opponents. “Coco’s forehand is her biggest weakness,” said Pam Shriver, a former coach and commentator, pointing out that the grip causes her to “spoon” shots rather than spin them effectively. Gauff’s coaching team, including Pere Riba and grip specialist Matt Daly, has been working on this since late 2024, adjusting her hand position from an eastern backhand grip toward a more conventional continental grip. “It’s not easy to fix things while you’re playing,” Gauff said earlier in her career, acknowledging the challenge of mid-season tweaks. Her recent Montreal performance, where she won 56% of points lasting five to eight shots, suggests progress, but Macci believes a more ATP-style forehand—modeled after players like Carlos Alcaraz—could make her nearly unstoppable.
Gauff’s Montreal run, despite serving struggles, highlighted her ability to win under pressure. Facing Collins, she battled through a marathon 2-hour-55-minute match, relying on her backhand and movement to secure a tiebreak victory. “Her movement is a bullet and shrinks the court,” Macci noted, calling her the best athlete in women’s tennis. This athleticism, honed from childhood through basketball and track, has fueled her 34-4 record since her 2024 Wimbledon loss to Sofia Kenin. However, her first-round Wimbledon exit to Dayana Yastremska (7-6, 6-1) exposed her forehand’s limitations on grass, where defensive play struggles against first-strike tennis. “I just feel a little bit disappointed in how I showed up,” a tearful Gauff said, admitting more grass practice might have helped.
As Gauff prepares for the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, where she’s a defending champion, her team’s focus on technical improvements is clear. Daly’s work on her serve grip, marked on her racket for consistency, has shown mixed results, with 37 double faults across two Montreal matches. Yet, her ability to win despite these errors—surpassing Caroline Wozniacki for the most WTA 1000 wins before age 22—speaks to her mental fortitude. “She’s always going to bring that relentlessness,” said CoCo Vandeweghe, a former pro, emphasizing Gauff’s ability to hide weaknesses. With a potential forehand tweak, Gauff could dominate faster surfaces like grass, where, as Chris Evert noted, “players that control and dictate points will win.” Fans on social media are buzzing, with one posting, “Coco’s so close to being untouchable—fix that forehand and it’s game over!” As she eyes a second US Open title, this small adjustment could be the spark to ignite her next Grand Slam triumph.
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