Coco Gauff was supposed to be the next Serena Williams. Since the WTA legend retired, Flushing has looked to crown a new queen on the Tour. Last year, when Gauff won the US Open at 19 years of age, things seemed to finally be falling into place. But Gauff has just exited the last major of the season with a solitary title to her name in 2024. Understandably heartbroken, her mother Candi is offering some comfort.
In a brutal loss to compatriot Emma Navarro, Gauff got eliminated from the fourth round. While she has been one of the most consistent players on the Tour this season – the frustration is bound to build. In a recent Instagram post, the World No. 3 shared a picture of her screaming to the sky on the hard court at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The caption read, “wasn’t meant to be this year…but I will come back stronger, best believe that🩵”
Candi Gauff reshared the post to her Instagram story with two heart emojis, tagging her daughter. A vital presence in Coco’s box during most matches, Candi has been the hype woman Coco has needed. Always ready to lend a shoulder, Mama Gauff is also present during the hard times her daughter is going through.
“Sometimes when I feel a little bit tight during a match, I look at them because they just give me fist pumps, so that just shows me that everything’s gonna be okay. They’re definitely my biggest supporters,” Gauff says of her parents. While her dad is more involved in her day-to-day tennis, her mom is always there to be the mediator, should something happen.
After this latest loss, the 20-year-old is certainly going to need some mental boosts from those around her. But most importantly, Coco Gauff knows that she’s headed in the right direction. However, is there a change in mentality that she has made already?
“I was, like, ‘I have to do this and do that, but I don’t have to prove anything to anyone except myself,” the American said in a post-match conference. “I have many more years coming back here, and I’m not going to win every year…Just having the belief that I can but not the expectation that I should.”
But while Gauff’s aims are clear, does her team need a shakeup too? Recent criticism from the tennis community is calling for a change of guard as far as Gauff’s coaches are concerned. And an unlikely character has stepped in to offer his guidance.
Should Coco Gauff be looking to replace Brad Gilbert soon?
In a match riddled with double faults (19 in total), Coco Gauff was left reeling in the loss to Emma Navarro. Gauff’s serve has already been under question, with coach Brad Gilbert coming under fire all year long. Per the Daily Mail, tennis legend Rennae Stubbs also blasted the veteran coach “Where is Coco’s confidence? There’s no second serve, that’s the sign. And that’s a problem.”
Stubbs continued, “So under pressure, bad technique breaks down and her technique is … hard for me to say because Brad is sitting here … but her technique, the elbow, is too low, the grip is a little weird as well.”
Gauff herself said in a post-match presser, “I definitely wanna get other opinions. It’s sometimes more of an emotional, mental thing ’cause if I go out on the practice court right now, I would make like 30 serves in a row. I wanna look at other things ’cause I don’t wanna lose matches like this anymore.”
But if not Gilbert, who could be on her team? Well, Nick Kyrgios, of all people, has stepped in to offer himself to the American youngster as a tennis coach. When an X user pointed out how Coco Gauff’s game has gone down since Gilbert became the head coach, the Aussie replied to the post saying, “I’d coach her.”
While Kyrgios has been out of the game this whole season due to injury and has mostly been found in the commentator’s box, will he be a serious candidate that Gauff considers? Only time will tell. But for now, the American youngster has much to do if she wants to end the season on a better note.
Leave a Reply