Coco Gauff sacks coach Brad Gilbert days after failing to defend US Open title
Coco Gauff has parted ways with her coach Brad Gilbert after a short but successful partnership. The American took this decision after failing to defend her US Open title recently.
Gauff teamed up with Gilbert in July 2023, with him initially joining her team as a consultant before becoming her head coach. Together, they secured four titles, including her first Grand Slam and she also reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2. The pair's other victories came in Cincinnati, the Citi Open, and Auckland, alongside semifinal appearances at the Australian and French Open this year.
However, the American's form began to decline around Wimbledon, where she failed to advance past the fourth round. This was followed by underwhelming performances in both Canada and Cincinnati before she was knocked out in the fourth round by fellow American Emma Navarro at Flushing Meadows. She has also yet to win a title this season.
On September 17, Brad Gilbert announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he was no longer working with Coco Gauff. He wished her all the best and expressed his enthusiasm for the next phase of his career.
"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," he wrote.
Gauff later took to her X account, writing:
"Thank you @bgtennisnation! We had an incredible run and I wish you all the best in the future!"
The American's split with Gilbert isn't a big surprise. Many, including Serena Williams' former coach Rennae Stubbs and Nick Kyrgios, advised her to make the change after her unsuccessful outing in New York. Kyrgios even offered to coach her himself.
Coco Gauff's next tournament is China Open 2024
Coco Gauff’s 2024 US Open campaign saw her secure wins against Varvara Gracheva, Tatjana Maria, and Elina Svitolina before Emma Navarro ended her run. Her defeat led to her dropping out of the Top 5 rankings for the first time in over a year.
"I'm wanting to reach a different level, it is disappointing, but I'm not going to beat myself up and be, like, this was so bad. I expect better, but at the end of the day it happened, and I know I can turn it around," Gauff told the media after her defeat.
The World No. 6's next stop is the China Open, a WTA 1000 tournament. She had a strong showing there last year, advancing to the semifinals before being defeated by eventual champion Iga Swiatek.
Gauff will look to take her performance a step further this year by reaching the championship match. However, this will be no easy feat, especially with her coaching change. She will now lean solely on Jean-Cristophe Faurel, who worked alongside Brad Gilbert.