Coco Gauff is all set to begin her campaign at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, but she may have to do so in the absence of her biomechanics coach, Gavin MacMillan. The American disclosed that MacMillan has been stranded amid the unrest in the Middle East, which majorly impacted the tennis community by leaving several top stars unable to travel. The ordeal was caused by the closure of several airspaces in the region after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran, prompting retaliatory missile strikes across parts of the Gulf.
Coco Gauff Shares Concerning News About Her Coach’s Situation in the Middle East
During her pre-tournament press conference at Indian Wells, Coco Gauff shared the worrying update that her coach, Gavin MacMillan, is currently stuck in the Middle East. The 21-year-old expressed doubt about whether he would be able to join her for the WTA 1000 event and said she is hoping for his safety.
“Yeah, my coach, Gavin, is actually there right now, he’s currently stuck, and I don’t know if he’s going to make it. I just want him to be safe. I don’t know when he can leave and things like that. We are just taking it day by day with him,” Gauff said.
While the likes of Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Karen Khachanov are expected to reach Indian Wells soon after finally escaping Dubai by travelling to Oman before flying out to Istanbul, MacMillan’s situation appears to remain unresolved.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding her coach’s presence, the World No. 4 said that she is in high spirits and is eager to kick off her campaign, saying, “Really happy to be back here. So far, so good. The weather is great as usual, so yeah, I’m excited to go out there and play.”
MORE: Martina Navratilova Gives Crucial Advice To Coco Gauff Ahead of Indian Wells
Who Will Coco Gauff Take On In Her Indian Wells Opener?
After a bye in the first round, fourth seed Gauff will lock horns with the winner of the match between Bianca Andreescu and Kamilla Rakhimova in her opening match. The American could then come up against Alexandra Eala in the third round, followed by a potential meeting with Linda Nosková in the Round of 16.
The 21-year-old is on the hunt for her maiden Indian Wells title and her fourth WTA 1000 trophy overall. Although Gauff suffered a surprising loss to Belinda Bencic in the fourth round of the event last year, she has previously made a deep run at the BNP Paribas Open by reaching the semifinals in 2024.
