Coco Gauff Talks Style, Mental Shifts, and What’s Next in Her Game

The weekend leading up to the US Open is insanely busy for the players. Beyond the required media appearances at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, they’re also juggling a slew of brand obligations—especially the athletes under the biggest spotlight. At just 21 years old, Coco Gauff—who won the Grand Slam tournament in 2023 and holds the title of highest-paid female athlete in the world across any sport—seems to taking the grind in stride.

“I’m just enjoying this experience,” the tennis pro tells ELLE over the phone. She’s posted up in her agency’s suite at Arthur Ashe Stadium—the Center’s flagship venue—fresh off a press conference and getting ready for a video shoot. “I think the adrenaline carries you through. I don’t really feel the [tiredness] just because of all the energy that this place brings.”

Coco Gauff holds up her US Open trophy in 2023.

Gauff is currently ranked as the world’s No. 3 women’s tennis player—and fittingly, she’s seeded third at this year’s Open. Two years ago, she claimed the title in dramatic fashion, rallying from a set down to defeat the formidable Aryna Sabalenka. She repeated that feat earlier this year at Roland-Garros, again toppling the Belarusian to claim the trophy. Between Gauff, top-seeded Sabalenka, and world No. 2 Iga Świątek, the race for the No. 1 ranking is closer than ever—any of the three could walk away from this tournament with the top spot. But Gauff says things feel different for her this time around. “You know, last year I was coming in as the defending champion,” she says. “I think I just didn’t get to enjoy it as much, because of all the nerves that came with that. So this year, there’s no pressure.” She laughs, then adds, “Well, there is, but I’m just really going to try to enjoy the moment.”

She has also built a reputation for her sense of style—most notably through her collaboration earlier this year between her primary sponsor, New Balance, and the Italian luxury brand Miu Miu. Gauff sported different iterations of the partnership at three separate tournaments, most recently in Cincinnati just a few days before the US Open. Once the lights dim in Queens, she’s set to host an event with Miu Miu. She doesn’t confirm whether her specific collab will continue, but New Balance and Miu Miu have their own sneaker linkup that remains ongoing.

The New Balance x Coco Gauff collection.

Gauff will, however, debut an all-new New Balance look this evening when she hits the court. It features a tank, a skirt, and a varsity jacket, which she will wear as she walks into the arena. On the lattermost’s lining, New Balance has embroidered various designs, as well as a famous Gauff quote, which she delivered after winning the Open in 2023: “To those that thought they were putting water on my fire, you’re really adding gas to it. And now I’m really burning so bright right now.” I asked if she had drawn any of the jacket’s designs herself. “I wish I could doodle that well,” Gauff says, laughing again. “But I definitely can’t.”

Just days before the Open, Gauff made headlines with a surprise coaching shakeup: she parted ways with Matt Daly and brought on Gavin MacMillan, a biomechanics expert known for his work with elite athletes. The move comes as the player continues to wrestle with two key parts of her game—her serve, which has one of the highest double fault counts on tour, and her forehand. MacMillan is widely credited with helping Sabalenka transform her once-unreliable serve into a weapon, and his availability lined up just ahead of the Open. Gauff didn’t hesitate—she knew what needed to be done.

Coco Gauff and Andre Agassi at the Stars of the Open exhibition match ahead of the 2025 US Open.

“I’m excited,” she says of the decision. “He’s obviously had experience helping someone with this issue before. I’m excited to be with someone who has worked through it. [Gavin] has worked in other sports as well—tennis isn’t the only thing he’s had experience with. He just understands the science of body movement.”

Still, she’s realistic about the timing. “Obviously, it’ll only be a few days by the time we start play, so I don’t know if we’ll see the results right away.”