"Coco Gauff is mentally not in good space" - Serena Williams' ex-coach concerned about 'glaring' spotlight on American ahead of US Open title defense
Coco Gauff will open her US Open title defence in a week, but Rennae Stubbs, the ex-coach of Serena Williams, isn’t entirely positive about the way things are shaping up for Gauff. Stubbs recently spoke about the defending champ’s concerning form going into her home Slam.
Gauff, who went 1-2 in the warm-up tournaments before the US Open, dropped a spot in the world rankings recently and will not be among the top-2 seeds at this year’s tournament.
Stubbs, in her latest appearance on The Rennae Stubbs Podcast, spoke about the negative impact that constant scrutiny has had on Gauff.
"I think there's a lot of voices coming her way. I think that, you know, in so many ways, I feel really sorry for [Coco Gauff], because she has such a glaring lights on her," Rennae Stubbs said (21.12 onwards). "And it's only going to get more and more glaring at the US Open with what she has to do to."
"She's lost a lot of points, she won't be seeded No. 2 at the US Open, she'll have a little bit, well, arguably, a little bit of a tougher draw depending on you know who she gets. She'll be, I think the No. 3 seed," she added.
Elaborating further, Stubbs said Gauff has seemed to be struggling mentally on the court in her matches.
"I feel so sorry for her because all the lights are on her and she's not in a good space, she's mentally not in a good space," the American said. "She's getting very upset on the court."
"Coco Gauff's got to go and play the US Open next" - Rennae Stubbs addresses the pressure of defending a title
Rennae Stubbs also took note of the little time that Coco Gauff has left to get herself ready for the US Open title defence, saying the youngster will be out on Arthur Ashe in her very first match.
The American, who coached Serena Williams towards the end of the latter's career, urged fans back home to imagine themselves being in Gauff's shoes before making an assessment.
"It's not like [Coco Gauff] can go and play a Challenger and get some tennis under the belt, she's got to go and play the US Open next and she will be on Arthur Ashe Stadium for her first match," Stubbs said.
"I want you at home to think about not being confident, not being prepared for a meeting or not being prepared for your homework, your exam, you're supposed to do and 20,000 people are looking at you and millions on TV are watching you as well, you're not going to like it," she added.
Gauff had beaten Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the 2023 US Open final to capture her maiden Grand Slam title.