Gauff splits with coach Gilbert

American world number six Coco Gauff has split with her coach Brad Gilbert only a fortnight after calling her US Open title defence ‘disappointing.

The 20-year-old Gauff won her first major in New York last year, with Gilbert as her coach. However, she was beaten in the fourth round by another American Emma Navarro this year.

This, you, Coco, only 20 years young, has a bright future ahead, and all the best in the future are yours, Gilbert, who once coached Andre Agassi, Andy Murray, and Andy Roddick.

I am eager for the next step in my coaching path.

Gauff recruited Gilbert to complement the services of Spanish coach Pere Riba after a poor Wimbledon exit in the first round last year.

Which saw a change of fate as Gauff emerged the winner in 18 out of the 19 games she participated in in the home hard-court series, clinching the titles in Washington, Cincinnati, and New York.

Aryna Sabalenka was defeated by her in the US Open final; the string of thirteen victories was a personal best for the player.

Thus, by November, Riba resigned from the team, making Gilbert the only main coach.

This year, Gauff has not decided on a final since clinching the Auckland title early this year in January.

She reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and French Open however lost in the fourth round of Wimbledon and the same stage at the US Open.

Tentativeness in serve – with 19 double faults against Navarro – and forehand created doubts about whether she would continue practicing with Gilbert.

‘Thank you coco and the whole entire team for an absolutely amazing summer run in 2023 and 14 months of amazing teamwork work’ concluded Gilbert aged 63 years.