Coco Gauff and Donna Vekic’s second round match at the 2025 US Open was an emotional spectacle to witness, particularly given Gauff’s recent collaboration with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan in order to improve her serve; yet even their efforts could not prevent an emotionally charged moment during her match with Vekic from prompting tears on court from Coco herself.
Vekic broke Gauff’s serve at 4-4 in the first set, prompting her to sob into her towel in response. It was an impactful scene which showed Gauff at her most vulnerable; nevertheless she rallied quickly enough and won the tiebreak 7-5 to show resilience and perseverance.
Bringing MacMillan onto her team was a calculated move by Gauff, aiming to tackle the inconsistencies in her serve that had troubled her in past matches. This partnership was put to the test early in the tournament, during her match against Ajla Tomljanovic, where despite making 59 unforced errors, Gauff clinched the win. This victory highlighted both her tenacity and the areas that still needed work.
However, Gauff’s struggle turned into a form of empowerment during her match with Vekic. After requesting a brief break, she returned to the court revitalized and went on to secure the match in two straight sets (7-6, 6-2), proving her mental and physical endurance.
Gauff Reflects on the Demands of Training
Gauff made clear after her win against Tomljanovic about the challenges associated with adapting to MacMillan’s training regimen, admitting it can be mentally draining while remaining focused on the incremental gains it brought her game. Recent performances, marked by many unforced errors and broken serves, illustrate this struggle on her path toward perfection.
Gauff’s emotional response during her match is more than simply representative of competition; it gives an indication of the strain experienced by elite athletes as they pursue continual improvement and resilience will likely play a vital role in Gauff’s pursuit for more Grand Slam titles as the tournament unfolds.