A few days ago Coco Gauff chose to split with coach Brad Gilbert. The American certainly expected more from the US Open, where she was the defending champion, but the disappointing result, which is crowning a season that was all in all below expectations, pushed the 20-year-old towards this decision.
The former coach of Venus and Serena Williams, Rick Macci expressed his opinion on this sporting separation, explaining how Coco is a winner and giving the young American a valid piece of advice to improve her tennis.
“Time is her best friend and her serve and forehand can become her two best friends if she takes her time and approaches it correctly. Coco is a winner. She knows how to survive and understands the geometry of the court. She needs 100% biomechanical changes to reprogram her reflexes. It has to be science-based. The serve is a 360-degree Easy Fix because there is no running. The forehand has to be a brand new ATP,” he explained.
Coco is winner. She knows how to survive and understands the geometry of the court. She needs 100% biomechanical modifications to reprogram the reflexes. Has to be science based. The serve is an 360 degree Easy Fix as there is no running. Forehand has to be brand new ATP. Time…
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) September 19, 2024
The American tennis player exited in the round of 16 at Flushing Meadows and has not managed to win any Grand Slam tournaments this year. Gauff, who has fallen to 6th in the WTA world rankings, has made the decision to part ways with her coach of 14 months, just a few weeks before her triumph at the 2023 US Open in the final over Aryna Sabalenka.
Gilbert, who was André Agassi’s coach for a long time, announced the end of this collaboration himself with an official post on his X profile, in which he did not fail to thank Gauff for this journey that also led them to conquer a Slam.
“Thank you to Coco Gauff and the entire team for an absolutely extraordinary run in the summer of 2023 and for these 14 months of incredible teamwork. Coco, at only 20 years old, your future is incredibly bright and I wish you nothing but continued success. I cannot wait to begin the next chapter of my coaching career,” he wrote.
Coco Gauff responded him writing: “Thank you Brad, we have had an incredible journey and I wish you the best for the future.”
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…
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) September 18, 2024
Thank you @bgtennisnation ! We had an incredible run and I wish you all the best in the future! pic.twitter.com/5A2pzJjHUB
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) September 18, 2024