Coco Gauff’s disappointment at the Paris Olympics seemed to carry over into her performance on the hard court as well. The young American expressed uncertainty about her decision to play in Toronto, stating that she wanted to challenge herself. Concerned fans are now directing their frustration towards her coach, Brad Gilbert.
Gauff’s loss at the Canadian Open marks a significant setback in her quest to defend her US Open title. The 20-year-old was defeated by the 14th-seeded Diana Shnaider, with a final score of 6-4, 6-1. This match highlighted certain areas of concern for Gauff as she prepares for the upcoming US Open, which is less than a month away.
During the match, Gauff struggled to find her rhythm on the court, facing both a determined opponent and challenging windy conditions at Sobeys Stadium. Following the defeat, she acknowledged her shortcomings, admitting, “I was unable to find my timing. I made numerous unforced errors and had several double faults. She played consistently and didn’t give me any easy points.”
Gauff’s defeat in Toronto follows a disappointing exit at the Paris Olympics where she was beaten by Donna Vekic, a player outside the top 20. Fans of the young tennis star had high hopes for a medal, given her world ranking of No. 2 and recent victory at the French Open. Gauff’s emotional departure from the Paris Olympics serves as a reminder of her youth. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “It inspires me and also puts my age into perspective. Many of them are between 24 and 27. I’ve learned to trust in my training and journey.”
Despite Gauff’s apparent lesson learned, her defense of the US Open title appears to be in jeopardy. The 20-year-old herself expressed doubts, stating, “I question whether I should have played in Toronto or not, but I wanted to test myself. I didn’t have high expectations, but I wish I could have competed better today, even in defeat. I don’t think I performed well.”
While Gauff’s perspective holds weight, fans have begun to cast doubt on her mentor, Brad Gilbert, who has been by her side for a significant period of time. As soon as Gauff suffered defeat, fans were relentless in their discussions, attempting to uncover the reasons behind her consistent decline. As consensus grew that the 20-year-old was making consistent efforts, attention turned to Brad Gilbert and his guidance.
One fan questioned the duration of Gilbert’s partnership with Gauff, asking, “Has Brad Gilbert overstayed his welcome?” They have been together for over a year, during which Gauff has achieved notable victories. However, flaws in her performance persist.
Another fan, foreseeing a bleak outcome at the US Open, speculated, “Depending on how she does at the US Open, I wouldn’t be surprised if she fires Brad Gilbert.” This echoes Holger Rune’s split from coach Patrick Mouratoglou due to similar concerns. Could Gauff be headed for a similar separation?
A fan criticized Gauff for her recent performances at the Paris Olympics and in Toronto, stating, “Wow, Coco Gauff has embarrassed herself. Double-faulting on break point in the second set and losing when her opponent hit only six groundstroke winners after a complete collapse at the Olympics.” This raises doubts about her future in the ongoing North American hard court swing. Gauff has struggled with her serve for some time now. While she received guidance from Andy Roddick to improve, the issue has resurfaced.
As the discussion intensified, fans’ suggestions turned into demands. “Fire Brad Gilbert! How much longer must we suffer?” one fan exclaimed, urging for a fresh face alongside Gauff as she continues her rise as a star, having already won both a singles and doubles grand slam. When Gauff achieved success at the 2023 US Open, Pere Riba was also part of her team. Was he the key to her triumph?
Many fans even questioned Gilbert’s presence, asking, “Where is Brad Gilbert?” They pointed to Gauff’s off-track performance, even on her favored surface. While fans were able to accept the loss at the Paris Olympics as her first major exposure, it will not be easy for them to overlook a disappointing performance at the home grand slam if she fails to defend her title.
Photo from Coco Gauff Instagram
