5 coaches Coco Gauff can hire after parting ways with Brad Gilbert ft. Serena Williams' ex-coach Rick Macci
After just over a year of working together, Coco Gauff has separated from her coach, Brad Gilbert. While Gilbert guided Gauff to her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, she sacked the American coach after her failure to defend the title in 2024.
Gilbert and Gauff linked up in July 2023, and under his tutelage, she not only won her first Major but also took home her maiden WTA 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open and maiden WTA 500 title at the Citi Open.
However, the former World No. 2's form has declined significantly in recent months. After Gilbert's departure, Coco Gauff will be under French coach Jean-Christophe Faurel's guidance, whom she re-hired in April 2024.
In recent years, the American has preferred working with two coaches in her team. On that note, let's take a look at five possible coaches Coco Gauff could hire:
#5 Wim Fissette
Wim Fissette, one of the most high-profile tennis coaches on the WTA Tour, is the prime candidate to replace Gilbert in Coco Gauff's contingent. His services became available after he separated from Naomi Osaka for the second time in September 2024.
The Belgian coach first joined forces with Osaka in 2019, and he guided her to victories at the 2020 US Open and the 2021 Australian Open.
That stint ended in 2022, but Osaka re-hired Fissette when she returned to the tour after giving birth to her daughter, Shai, in July 2023. The 26-year-old has had a tough comeback and now decided to make changes to her team.
Fissette has also been the coach to other big stars such as Kim Clijsters (2009–2011), Sabine Lisicki (2013), Simona Halep (2014), Victoria Azarenka (2015–2016), Petra Kvitová (2016), Sara Errani (2016), Johanna Konta (2016–2017), Angelique Kerber (2017–2018), Victoria Azarenka (2018–2020), and Zheng Qinwen (2022–2023).
#4 Stefano Vukov
Stefano Vukov made his name as a top coach in the tennis world during his five-year partnership with Elena Rybakina. He began coaching Rybakina in February 2019 and took her career to new heights.
Under Vukov's tutelage, Rybakina became the first Kazakh player to break into the top 5 of the tennis rankings and also the first to win a singles Grand Slam title (2022 Wimbledon Championships).
The Croatian coach is known for his intense style. Rybakina announced the end of her five-year partnership with Vukov just ahead of the 2024 US Open with a heartfelt post on social media.
In an interesting turn of events, Vukov was reportedly removed from the WTA coaches list without any explanation.
#3 Boris Becker
German tennis legend Boris Becker could be a contender to become Coco Gauff's next coach. The six-time Grand Slam champion worked with Novak Djokovic between 2013 and 2016, contributing to the Serb's six Grand Slam titles and 14 Masters 1000 titles during that period.
Becker took a long break from coaching after his stint with Djokovic, and returned to the role for Danish No. 1 Holger Rune in October 2023. However, their partnership was short-lived as Rune and Becker split in February 2024.
If the German agrees to coach Gauff, she will be the first female player he takes under his wing.
#2 Rennae Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs is another strong contender for the coach's role in Coco Gauff's team. The Australian tennis star won three doubles Grand Slam titles in her playing days and later became a mentor for many well-known players on the WTA Tour.
Stubbs' first coaching assignment was with Karolina Pliskova from August 2018 to May 2019. Stubbs then agreed to coach compatriot Samantha Stosur, and was part of her team as she lifted the doubles title at the 2021 US Open with Zhang Shuai.
Stubbs has also mentored Eugenie Bouchard, and she famously linked up with Serena Williams for her final Grand Slam campaign at the 2022 US Open.
#1 Rick Macci
Rick Macci could take another young American under his wing if he agrees to take over from Brad Gilbert in Coco Gauff's team.
Macci made his name while shaping Venus and Serena Williams' tennis careers in their younger days and guiding them to the top of the tennis rankings. He also coached three more World No. 1 players: Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati, and Maria Sharapova.
Rick Macci has been adorned with seven United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) National Coach of the Year awards. Other prominent names who have received guidance from Macci include Anastasia Myskina, Sofia Kenin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Mary Pierce.