"It's gotten not better at all, bro": Coco Gauff's frustration boils over in Dubai loss, emotional exchange with coach goes viral

Coco Gauff’s outburst caught on camera.Image via: Getty

Coco Gauff is trending for more than just her semifinal result in Dubai. During a tense three-hour battle against Elina Svitolina at the Dubai Tennis Championships, cameras picked up a rare emotional moment from the world No 4. Midway through the second set, after another double fault added to her growing tally, Gauff turned away from the court and directed her frustration toward her team. The American eventually fell 4-6-7-6-4-6 to Svitolina, but it was the exchange with her coach that quickly became the talking point across tennis news and social media. The video is now going vira. Take a look at it below:

Double faults and mounting pressure spark tense exchange

Viewers could clearly hear Coco Gauff say, “I've been doing everything you've wanted for the last six months...” She then seemed to lower her pitch before adding, “And it's gotten not better at all, bro.” The clip went viral, with fans debating whether it showed pressure, honesty or simply the emotion of a high-stakes match. The comments were believed to be aimed at Gavin MacMillan, her serving coach. MacMillan joined Gauff’s team ahead of last summer’s US Open. A biomechanics specialist, he has worked with athletes across different sports and previously helped Aryna Sabalenka reshape her serve in 2022. Gauff has struggled with double faults in the past. Last season, she led the WTA Tour with more than 300. MacMillan adjusted her serving motion, but against Svitolina, the issues resurfaced. The frustration was visible as the semifinal slipped away. This is not the first time Gauff’s emotions have spilled over during a match. At the 2023 US Open, while working with Brad Gilbert, she was heard telling him mid-match, “Stop talking.” That moment, too, became part of the broader conversation about the pressures young stars face on the WTA Tour. Friday’s loss also meant Gauff missed the chance to set up an all-American final in Dubai. Jessica Pegula defeated Amanda Anisimova 1-6 6-4 6-3 to reach the championship match, while Svitolina, 31, advanced to her first Dubai final in nearly a decade after surviving four match points in the second-set tie-break. For Gauff, the night was a reminder that progress in tennis is rarely linear. The spotlight is bright, expectations are high and every reaction is captured. Whether fans view the moment as frustration or fierce competitiveness, it showed once again how deeply she cares about getting it right.

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