Coco Gauff has made a team change after a disappointing last couple of months as the American tennis star is moving on from coach Brad Gilbert.
After reaching back-to-back Grand Slam semifinals at this year’s Australian Open and French Open, the 2023 US Open champion was hoping to do some big things in the summer. But the 20-year-old didn’t come anywhere near meeting her expectations after picking up round-of-16 losses at Wimbledon, the Paris Olympics and the US Open.
In her last tournament played, Gauff’s title defense at Flushing Meadows to Emma Navarro – the same player who beat in the same stage at The Championships in July.
“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 chapter in my coaching career,” Gilbert wrote on X.
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
Gilbert achieved huge success with Gauff but the last few months were rough
When the former coach of Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick started working with the 20-year-old after 2023 Wimbledon, she was in one of the lowest points of her career.
And it was an instant success since the American went on to become a WTA 1000 champion in Cincinnati before also landing her first Major at the US Open.
Coco Gauff© YouTube screenshot
At the time, Gilbert was widely credited for helping Gauff find a way out of a slump and getting her to the level where she wanted to be.
But the tone around their partnership changed in the last couple of months as for quite some time some were calling on the world No. 6 to make a coaching change – and it only intensified after her disappointing run in New York.
Ultimately, Gauff made that call and now it remains to be seen if she will hire someone else for the last two months of the season or if she will wait for the offseason to find a new coach.