Should Coco Gauff make a big gamble and hire Nick Kyrgios as coach after Brad Gilbert split?
The news of Coco Gauff's split with her coach Brad Gilbert came to light on Thursday, September 18. Their partnership has concluded just days after she bowed out in the fourth round of the US Open, where she was the defending champion.
Gauff was the hottest player on tour last summer once she added Gilbert to her team. The results were immediate, starting with her triumph at the Citi Open, her first title at the WTA 500 level. She went a step further at the Cincinnati Open and captured her first WTA 1000 title.
The 20-year-old's summer culminated in her maiden Major triumph at the US Open. She later reached the semifinals of the China Open and the WTA Finals as well. The young American had decent results this year, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and the French Open, and successfully defending her title in Auckland.
However, Gauff appeared to have hit a block in the last few weeks. Her serve went haywire, and the frequency of double faults increased. Her forehand reverted to being a liability as well. It was a tough decision, but she knew what she had to do.
As Gauff commences her hunt for a new coach, someone has already shown an interest, and it's no other than Nick Kyrgios. One fan called for Gilbert to be sacked once she lost in the US Open, and suggested the Australian as his replacement, who was up for the task.
Nick Kyrgios could certainly aid Coco Gauff in terms of gameplay
Nick Kyrgios is currently on an injury hiatus, and has taken to commentating and hosting a podcast as he recovers. As such, he has the time to give Coco Gauff a helping hand for now.
Gauff currently leads the tour in terms of double faults hit with 315. Her serve has let her down in crucial moments, and it's easy to spot when she's about to throw in a double fault.
Kyrgios last played a full season in 2022. Back then he was ranked second in terms of overall serving with a rating of 308.1 by the ATP. He was also ranked fifth in terms of points won on first serve, with 78.8 percent. He won 92 percent of his service games, and was the tour leader that year in that area.
The Australian also won 55.9 percent of his second-serve points, which put him in sixth place that year. His serve is a huge weapon, and if he's able to get Gauff to follow in his footsteps when it comes to serving, a lot of her problems would go away.
Gauff's forehand issues have been present since the start of her career. Changing her grip would be an extreme measure, and there's no guarantee that it would improve her results. Kyrgios' forehand often put his opponents in a spot of bother.
If he's able to instill more confidence in the American with respect to that shot, then that would be a big win for her. While Kyrgios' talent as a player could help Gauff to a certain extent, there's a downside to teaming up with him as well.
Coco Gauff could have to deal with excessive media attention if she does work with Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios isn't shy when it comes to expressing his opinions, and his brash personality has often landed him in hot water. He's controversy's favorite child in the world of tennis, and that could affect Coco Gauff adversely if she adds him to her team.
Gauff has managed to keep herself away from unsavory business so far. She's got a good head on her shoulders, and has shown maturity far beyond her years. The opposite is true for Kyrgios at times, who often reacts quickly before he has time to think things through.
Additionally, Kyrgios' comments on Gauff's colleagues would make it a bad look on the latter's part to hire him. He recently made a derogatory remark against Anna Kalinskaya, and did the same a few years ago when he made a crude comment on Donna Vekic.
The negative attention that comes with Kyrgios could hamper Gauff's progress. Ultimately, it is better that she looks elsewhere when it comes to hiring a coach. With age comes wisdom, and a retired player who has already dealt with the ups and downs of the tour would be a better pick.