Gauff ‘having more fun’ as she prepares for her first US Open final

American is reaping the benefits of hiring new coaches and getting to work on her forehand this summer

By the time Coco Gauff arrived at the French Open this year to defend the points she had compiled as a finalist in 2022, all eyes, from opponents to pundits, were on one shot in her game.

There was never any doubt about her first serve, which she fires down at a vicious pace with growing precision, nor her excellent backhand, athleticism, variety and court sense. But her forehand was one of the most glaring weaknesses in the top 10.