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 the complete workforce for a fully superb summer time run in 2023 and for 14 months of unbelievable workforce effort,” Gilbert posted on social media. “Coco, at simply 20 years younger, your future is extremely brilliant, and I want you nothing however continued success forward.
“I’m excited for the subsequent chapter in my Teaching profession.”
Thanks 🙏 to @CocoGauff and the complete workforce for a fully superb summer time run in 2023 and for 14 months of unbelievable workforce effort. Coco, at simply 20 years younger, your future is extremely brilliant, and I want you nothing however continued success forward. I’m excited for the subsequent…
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) September 18, 2024
The break up means each coaches who guided Gauff to the 2023 US Open championship—Gilbert and Pere Riba—are not working with the Delray Seashore-born baseliner. Riba left shortly after Gauff gained the US Open and has been teaching Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen.
Thanks @bgtennisnation ! We had an unbelievable run and I want you all the very best 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 turned the youngest girl to win the Cincinnati Open. At age 19, Gauff turned 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 closing. 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 current weeks.
Since reaching the Berlin semifinals final June, Gauff has didn’t 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 continues to be ranked No. 6 on this planet.
Days earlier than the 2024 US Open, Corridor of Famer John McEnroe stated he did not consider his ESPN colleague Gilbert was the difficulty with Gauff’s stoop.
McEnroe additionally stated time is on Gauff’s aspect and he is assured she has the sport and thoughts to show issues round.
“Coco is a superb participant she will determine it out—you realize simply concentrate,” McEnroe stated final month. “So far as Brad goes, it’s onerous to say what’s going to occur. However Brad is likely one of 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 those who have acquired his style, have accomplished very effectively. I feel he needs to be within the Corridor of Fame for his teaching, personally. So I don’t suppose [coaching] is the issue. I feel 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 amazing run. She gained the Open. I feel he’s accomplished a superb job. She’s younger. We’ll see what occurs. She has loads of time to determine this out.”
