FILE – American Coco Gauff embraces her coach Brad Gilbert after winning the 2023 U.S. Open. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images/AFP
Coco Gauff has parted ways with coach Brad Gilbert after more than a year together and one Grand Slam win, the pair announced in separate messages on social media on Wednesday.
The end of their partnership came two and a half weeks after Gauff’s 2023 U.S. Open title defence was ended when 19 double faults led to a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 fourth-round loss to Emma Navarro at Flushing Meadows.
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The loss on Tuesday was the latest in a series of disappointing results in recent months for Gauff, the 20-year-old American who recently dropped from No. 3 to No. 6 in the WTA rankings.
Read: Coco Gauff is the latest star to be eliminated from the U.S. Open
Gauff’s real breakthrough came after her first-round loss at Wimbledon last season with the help of coaching staff of Gilbert and Pere Riba, who was not with her this year.
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Gauff went 22-1 in 2023 and won in Washington, Cincinnati and the U.S. Open (her first major title), all while still in her teens.
Gilbert posted on social media on Wednesday to thank Gauff and her entire team “for a fantastic summer of 2023 and a fantastic team effort over the past 14 months.”
Read: Paris Olympics: Coco Gauff loses match in dispute with umpire
“Coco, you’re only 20 years old and your future is incredibly bright and I wish you continued success,” wrote Gilbert, a former professional player who has coached the likes of Andre Agassi, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick. “I’m excited for the next chapter of my coaching career.”
Gauff thanked Gilbert in a message on Wednesday, adding, “We had a great run together. I wish you all the best in the future!”
Their tenures included Gauff reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open in January and the French Open in June, losing to the eventual winners in both tournaments.
Read: Coco Gauff says lack of video replay in tennis is ‘ridiculous’
At Wimbledon in July, Gauff was eliminated in the fourth round (against Navarro) and there were several discussions on Centre Court between Gauff and Gilbert about an alternative game plan.
“I felt like I needed more direction,” Gauff said after the match.
After serving as the U.S. women’s flag bearer for the team, she lost in the third round of singles at the Paris Olympics, and then Gauff was eliminated in both the women’s doubles and mixed doubles at the Summer Olympics, losing two matches in the second of both events on the same day.
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Gauff went 1-2 at the Toronto and Cincinnati Opens after moving from red clay to hard courts and returned to the U.S. Open as the reigning champion.
