5 biggest players who made significant changes to their team in 2024 ft. Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff

A good coach can often make or break a player's career. Coaches offer insight, support, and stability, which often leads to an improved performance on the player's part. However, finding the right fit isn't that easy.

That's why players tend to stick with a coach if they feel that things are working smoothly. However, change is the only constant, especially in sports. Players are quick to replace coaches if they feel like their progress has stagnated.

Even when they're on good terms, a fresh perspective is needed in order to improve as a player. On that note, here are five big names in tennis who made a huge change in their coaching arrangements this year:

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#5 - Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka at the China Open 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Osaka prepared for her return to the tour from maternity leave by re-hiring Wim Fissette towards the end of 2023. She tasted modest success with him by her side this year, with a quarterfinal at the WTA 1000 in Doha being her best result. Following a second-round exit from the US Open, the two decided to end their partnership.

Osaka added one of the most well-known coaches in the business to her team, Serena Williams' ex-coach Patrick Mourtagolou in September. She reached the fourth round of the China Open before retiring due to a back injury, in her very first tournament with him. She wrapped up her season due to the said injury.

Mouratoglou worked with Williams for a decade and helped her claim 10 Major titles, among other accolades. Osaka will now hope to reap the same benefits as the American by working with him.

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#4 - Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek at the WTA Finals 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Swiatek parted ways with her coach of nearly three years, Tomasz Wiktorowski, in October 2024. They had a fruitful collaboration, and the 23-year-old won four Major titles, the WTA Finals, and 11 WTA 1000 titles under his tutelage. However, she felt that it was time for a change, which led to their separation.

Swiatek then brought on board Fissette as her new coach in October, her first time working with a non-Polish coach. The latter was recently on the hunt for a new gig after his split with Osaka. Aside from the Japanese, he also coached other high-profile players such as Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, and Petra Kvitova, among others.

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#3 - Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Gauff hired Brad Gilbert in the summer of 2023, and their partnership was off to a flying start. She won the Citi Open, the Cincinnati Open, and then her maiden Major title at the US Open. She had some solid results with him this year, especially during the first half of the season.

Gauff defended her title in Auckland and reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, the French Open, and the Indian Wells Open. She also won the doubles title at the clay court Major. However, she failed to defend her Cincinnati Open and US Open titles. Following her fourth-round exit from the season's last Major, Gilbert was shown the door.

The 20-year-old hired Matt Daly to replace Gilbert in September, who had previously worked with Denis Shapovalov. The two tasted immediate success, and Gauff won the China Open, their very first tournament together. She also won the WTA Finals to wrap up the season on a high. A coaching change in the middle of the season is quite risky but it worked out quite well for her.

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#2 - Hubert Hurkacz

Hubert Hurkacz at the French Open 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Hurkacz split with his coach of five years, Craig Boynton, after a second-round exit from the US Open. His search for a new mentor came to an end in November, and he has added not one but two coaches to his team, Ivan Lendl and Nicolas Massu.

Lendl won eight Major titles during his career and coached Andy Murray to all three of his Major titles as well. Massu won the Olympic gold in singles and doubles during his playing days and led Dominic Thiem to the US Open title in 2020 as his coach.

While Hurkacz reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 this year, an injury sustained during his fourth-round match at Wimbledon derailed his campaign for a bit. By hiring Lendl and Massu, he seems to be keen to make up for the lost opportunities this year.

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#1 - Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic at the Shanghai Masters 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Djokovic let go of his coach of five years, Goran Ivanisevic this year and competed in the last few tournaments of the season without a coach by his side. He recently announced his new coach, and it is no one other than his former rival, Andy Murray. The Brit retired earlier this season but is all set to return to action, albeit in a different role.

Murray will work with Djokovic in the off-season, and then until the conclusion of the Australian Open. Their paths were intertwined since they were juniors, and they competed side by side at the pro level for more than a decade. Despite their fierce on-court rivalry, the two have immense respect for each other and have an amazing camaraderie as well.

Murray struggled to recapture the same level of success during his peak following a hip surgery in 2018 and spent the last few years as a non-contender at the biggest events. Djokovic, meanwhile, continued to prosper. While the Brit failed to win the Australian Open during his time as a player, with five runner-up finishes, he will now hope to win one as a coach.