Gauff Splits with Coach Gilbert

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Picture credit score: Sarah Stier/Getty

The journey is over for the Coco Gauff-Brad Gilbert alliance. 

The 2023 US Open champion Gauff and coach Gilbert have parted firm, ending their partnership of 14 months. 

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“Thanks Coco Gauff and your entire staff for a fully superb summer time run in 2023 and for 14 months of unimaginable staff effort,” Gilbert posted on social media. “Coco, at simply 20 years younger, your future is extremely vibrant, and I want you nothing however continued success forward.

“I’m excited for the subsequent chapter in my Teaching profession.”

Thanks 🙏 to @CocoGauff and your entire staff for a fully superb summer time run in 2023 and for 14 months of unimaginable staff effort. Coco, at simply 20 years younger, your future is extremely vibrant, and I want you nothing however continued success forward. I’m excited for the subsequent…

— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) September 18, 2024

The cut up means each coaches who guided Gauff to the 2023 US Open championship—Gilbert and Pere Riba—are now not working with the Delray Seashore-born baseliner. Riba left shortly after Gauff received the US Open and has been teaching Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen.

Thanks @bgtennisnation ! We had an unimaginable run and I want you all the most effective sooner or later! pic.twitter.com/5A2pzJjHUB

— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) September 18, 2024

On the 2023 US Open, Gauff rallied previous Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to seize her maiden main earlier than a raucous crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It was Gauff’s twelfth straight win and got here after she grew to become the youngest girl to win the Cincinnati Open. At age 19, Gauff grew to become the youngest American to win the US Open since her tennis hero, a 17-year-old Serena Williams, defeated world No. 1 Martina Hingis within the 1999 last. She additionally joined Serena Williams and Tracy Austin because the third American teenage girl to seize the US Open within the Open Period.

Although Gauff opened this season efficiently defending Auckland for her seventh title earlier than semifinal runs on the Australian Open and Roland Garros, she’s been reeling in latest weeks.

Since reaching the Berlin semifinals final June, Gauff has did not survive the spherical of 16 in her final 5 tournaments, posting a 9-5 report in that span. Compatriot Emma Navarro knocked Gauff out of the fourth spherical at Wimbledon and the US Open as opponents have pounded the Gauff western-grip forehand.

The American co flag-bearer on the Paris Olympics alongside LeBron James, Gauff fell to Navarro in a tearful Wimbledon loss, went all the way down to Wimbledon semifinalist Donna Vekic on the Olympics, misplaced to Diana Shnaider in Toronto and was bounced out of Cincinnati by Yulia Putintseva final month. Regardless of these outcomes, Gauff remains to be ranked No. 6 on the planet.

Days earlier than the 2024 US Open, Corridor of Famer John McEnroe stated he did not imagine his ESPN colleague Gilbert was the problem with Gauff’s hunch.

McEnroe additionally stated time is on Gauff’s facet and he is assured she has the sport and thoughts to show issues round.

“Coco is a good participant she will be able to determine it out—you realize simply listen,” McEnroe stated final month.  “So far as Brad goes, it’s onerous to say what is going to occur. However Brad is among the finest coaches that has been round.

“He’s been round some nice gamers. Perhaps Brad is an acquired style to some extent, however you realize the folks that have acquired his style, have executed very properly. I believe he must be within the Corridor of Fame for his teaching, personally. So I don’t suppose [coaching] is the issue. I believe if she decides in a yr she needs to strive another person, you realize that’s her proper, she’s the participant.

“However final yr when he joined forces with Coco there was an important run. She received the Open. I believe he’s executed a wonderful job. She’s younger. We’ll see what occurs. She has loads of time to determine this out.”