Coco Gauff reveals name of new coach days after shock split with Brad Gilbert who guided her to Grand Slam glory
Coco Gauff has revealed Matt Daly as her new coach, just days after her surprising split with Brad Gilbert. Daly will be by the American’s side at the 2024 China Open, where she aims to regain her form and make a strong impact.
Gauff and Gilbert parted ways after working together for just over a year. Under the veteran coach's guidance, who once mentored Andre Agassi, her career reached new heights, including her first Major at the 2023 US Open. However, her inability to defend the title this year may have contributed to the decision to end their partnership.
Gilbert took to X to announce their split, writing:
"Thanks to @CocoGauff and the entire team for an absolutely amazing summer run in 2023 and for 14 months of incredible team effort. 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."
Afterwards, there was considerable curiosity about who would be Coco Gauff's next coach, with several names floated as potential candidates, including Rennae Stubbs, Rick Macci, and even Nick Kyrgios.
The World No. 6 has now announced that Matt Daly has joined her team alongside her longtime coach, Jean-Christophe Faurel. The news comes just a day before she is set to begin her campaign at the China Open.
Coco Gauff on new coaching relationship with Matt Daly: "The little we've done has made drastic improvement"
Coco Gauff discussed her new coaching relationship with Matt Daly during an interview with the WTA Insider at the 2024 China Open in Beijing. She expressed her excitement about embarking on this new journey and focusing on improving the areas of her game that need development.
"I'm really excited," she said. "I think this is probably what it will look like next year too. I'm super excited for a new change and hopefully to improve other parts of my game."
She added:
"Already, the little bit we've done has made a drastic improvement to where I was three weeks ago. At this point, there's not a crazy amount. It's just subtle things that, doing it for a week now, will help me."
Daly has previously worked with Denis Shapovalov and played collegiate tennis for the University of Notre Dame. It will be interesting to see how their relationship develops as Gauff takes on Clara Burel in the second round of the WTA tournament on September 27.