Serena Williams' ex-coach Stubbs critiquing Coco Gauff's US Open display despite professional relationship with her coach earns journalist's praise
Coco Gauff's coach Brad Gilbert appeared on ESPN soon after the 20-year-old's exit from the US Open. Despite his presence, Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs didn’t hold back in critiquing Gauff. Tennis journalist Jon Wertheim praised Stubbs for prioritizing her duty towards the audience.
Reigning champion Gauff was ousted in the US Open fourth round by compatriot Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 3-6. Questions were raised about the 20-year-old's serves as she made 19 double faults.
However, soon after the loss, Gilbert appeared on ESPN with Stubbs as one of the pundits on the show. The former Australian doubles player acknowledged Gilbert's presence but criticized Gauff's 'bad technique,' which Stubbs believes cost her the match.
"Where is Coco's confidence?" Stubbs questioned. "There's no second serve, that's the sign. And that's a problem."
"So under pressure, bad technique breaks down and her technique is...hard for me to say because Brad [Gilbert] is sitting here...but her technique, the elbow, is too low, the grip is a little weird as well. So it's hard for her to get that nice first serve and then the same or similar second serve," she said.
An X account called it 'wrong' for the 63-year-old coach to make a TV appearance after his player's loss. The post was reposted by journalist Wertheim and he praised the Australian for not letting her professional relationship come in the way of honest critique.
"Credit @rennaestubbs for putting responsibility to audience ahead of green room collegiality and asking the questions that needed to be asked, making the points that needed to be made…." Wertheim wrote on X.
Notably, Gilbert has coached the likes of Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick in the past. However, fans suggest that his association with Gauff is detrimental to the young American's career.
Nick Kyrgios offers to coach Coco Gauff as calls to 'sack' Brad Gilbert gain momentum after US Open exit
Coco Gauff committed 60 unforced errors compared to Emma Navarro's 35 in their US Open fourth-round encounter. The 20-year-old said after the game that her service game let her down and that the result could have been different if her serves were better.
After her US Open exit, calls to 'sack' Brad Gilbert were made on X by fans. One fan wrote:
"My honest advice to @CocoGauff is to sack @bgtennisnation. He became Gauff head coach in November 2023 and her game has regressed since then. Brad loves himself more than anyone else and that doesn't work if you are a Head Coach," the fan posted on X.
Another fan suggested that Nick Kyrgios should take up the job. The 2022 Wimbledon finalist commented:
"I'd coach her"
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff claimed she would not 'beat herself up' after the 'disappointing' US Open exit.