Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter, living in the vibrant city of Miami. I’m super excited to share some hot news from the world of tennis. If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the lookout for what’s happening in the sport we love.
Recently, I came across some juicy gossip that’s got everyone in the tennis community talking: Coco Gauff has parted ways with her coach, Brad Gilbert. This news broke on September 18, 2024, and trust me, it’s a big deal!
Gauff and Gilbert: A Bittersweet Parting
Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, and her coach Brad Gilbert have ended their partnership after 14 months. This news came as a shock to many fans and fellow players. Gilbert took to social media to express his gratitude towards Gauff and the entire team for an “absolutely amazing summer run in 2023” and for their incredible team effort over the past year.
“Coco, at just 20 years young, your future is incredibly bright, and I wish you nothing but continued success ahead,” Gilbert posted. “I’m excited for the next chapter in my Coaching career.”
What Does This Mean for Gauff?
The split means both coaches who guided Gauff to the 2023 US Open championship—Gilbert and Pere Riba—are no longer working with the Delray Beach-born baseliner. Riba left shortly after Gauff won the US Open and has been coaching Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen.
At the 2023 US Open, Gauff rallied past Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to capture her maiden major before a raucous crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium. This victory marked her 12th straight win and came after she became the youngest woman to win the Cincinnati Open. At age 19, Gauff became the youngest American to win the US Open since her tennis hero, Serena Williams, defeated world No. 1 Martina Hingis in the 1999 final. She also joined Serena Williams and Tracy Austin as the third American teenage woman to capture the US Open in the Open Era.
Though Gauff opened this season successfully defending Auckland for her seventh title before semifinal runs at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, she’s been reeling in recent weeks. Since reaching the Berlin semifinals last June, Gauff has failed to survive the round of 16 in her last five tournaments, posting a 9-5 record in that span. Compatriot Emma Navarro knocked Gauff out of the fourth round at Wimbledon and the US Open as opponents have pounded the Gauff western-grip forehand.
The American co-flag bearer at the Paris Olympics alongside LeBron James, Gauff fell to Navarro in a tearful Wimbledon loss, went down to Wimbledon semifinalist Donna Vekic at the Olympics, lost to Diana Shnaider in Toronto and was bounced out of Cincinnati by Yulia Putintseva last month. Despite those results, Gauff is still ranked No. 6 in the world.
McEnroe’s Take on Gauff’s Slump
Days before the 2024 US Open, Hall of Famer John McEnroe said he didn’t believe his ESPN colleague Gilbert was the issue with Gauff’s slump. McEnroe also said time is on Gauff’s side and he’s confident she has the game and mind to turn things around.
“Coco is a great player; she can figure it out—you know just pay attention,” McEnroe said last month. “As far as Brad goes, it’s hard to say what will happen. But Brad is one of the best coaches that has been around. He’s been around some great players. Maybe Brad is an acquired taste to some degree, but you know the people that have acquired his taste, have done very well. I think he should be in the Hall of Fame for his coaching, personally. So I don’t think [coaching] is the problem. I think if she decides in a year she wants to try someone else, you know that’s her right, she’s the player.”
Trends in Tennis Today
If you’re anything like me, you’re always curious about what’s trending in tennis. Right now, fans are buzzing about several key topics:
- US Open 2024: The upcoming tournament promises to be a beacon of innovation in tennis, with new technologies and strategies expected to be showcased.
- Young Stars: Players like Gauff and other young stars are dominating headlines with their impressive performances and potential.
- Coaching Changes: The coaching landscape is shifting, with many top players changing coaches in search of new strategies and success.
Conclusion
So there you have it—Coco Gauff has parted ways with her coach Brad Gilbert after a successful run together. While this news might seem like a setback for Gauff, many believe she has plenty of time to figure things out and continue her upward trajectory.
If you want, you can check out the news where I found it here.
Yours truly,
Mia