Boris Becker reacts to Coco Gauff's split from coach Brad Gilbert amid recent slump; Paul McNamee responds
Boris Becker shared his take on Coco Gauff’s recent split from her coach, Brad Gilbert. The German, along with former Australian player Paul McNamee, was all praise for the duo’s achievements together.
On Wednesday, September 18, Gauff and Gilbert announced that they had ended their partnership after almost 14 months together. The esteemed American coach, known for his collaborations with former World No. 1s such as Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and Andy Murray, was first spotted coaching Coco Gauff during her title run at the 2023 Citi Open.
Brad Gilbert’s addition to the team came just weeks after Gauff hired Pere Riba as her main coach. She scripted a run for the ages, winning titles in Cincinnati and New York after the Citi Open. Shortly after her US Open glory, though, Coco Gauff revealed that she and Riba were no longer working together.
With Gilbert as her only coach, the young American clinched one title—at the 2024 ASB Classic, where she was the defending champion. Praising the veteran’s contribution, Boris Becker recently said:
"It was a great partnership while it lasted ! Well done BG and continued success for Coco !" Boris Becker wrote on X.
At Grand Slams, Coco Gauff reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and the French Open and won the women’s doubles title in Paris. Besides that, though, she has failed to produce any noteworthy results.
The 20-year-old looked out of sorts during her Wimbledon fourth-round loss to Emma Navarro. She was also unsuccessful in defending her three North American titles from last year, yet again losing to Navarro in the fourth round of the 2024 US Open. Brad Gilbert faced immense backlash following Gauff’s New York exit, with Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rennae Stubbs putting the coach on blast for his player's lack of “confidence.”
Paul McNamee, however, echoed Boris Becker and emphasized that replicating their 2023 dominance was always going to be a tall order for Gauff and Gilbert. He opined that the criticism directed toward the coach was unwarranted.
"I just want to say congrats BG on taking Coco to her Grand Slam victory in New York last year. It was never going to be easy to back that up this year for obvious reasons. So, for me, you do not deserve criticism, but utmost praise on that amazing Grand Slam achievement together," McNamee said in response to Gilbert’s statement on his split.
What Coco Gauff and Brad Gilbert said about their coaching split
In his statement acknowledging their split, Brad Gilbert reminisced about Coco Gauff’s 2023 North American hardcourt run, which led to her maiden Grand Slam win at the US Open.
"Thanks to @CocoGauff and the entire team for an absolutely amazing summer run in 2023 and for 14 months of incredible team effort," he wrote on X.
The former Andre Agassi coach expressed confidence in Gauff’s successful tennis future while looking forward to his own next chapter.
"Coco, at just 20 years young, your future is incredibly bright, and I wish you nothing but continued success ahead. I’m excited for the next chapter in my Coaching career," he said.
The World No. 6 responded in kind:
"Thank you @bgtennisnation! We had an incredible run and I wish you all the best in the future!" Coco Gauff said.
Following her US Open run, Gauff is expected to resume her campaign at the WTA 1000 event in Beijing (September 25-October 6), where she will defend her semifinal run from last year.