Wouldn’t Say No’: Williams’ Ex-Coach Interested In Being Gauff’s New Coach.
There has been much speculation about Coco Gauff’s next coach, and one of Serena Williams’ former coaches has expressed interest in the role.
Coco Gauff parted ways with Brad Gilbert after the US Open. The pair had worked together for 14 months before they decided it would be in Gauff’s best interests to split.
The 20-year-old’s biggest successes were in the early months of her relationship with Gilbert. She won her first WTA 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open last year, gaining the ideal preparation for the US Open.
Gauff won her maiden Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows a few weeks later, overcoming Aryna Sabalenka in the final. The American’s quick success with Gilbert raised expectations for 2024.
However, this year has not gone as Gauff hoped. Her results in the opening months were solid, and she reached the semifinals of the Australian and French Opens. But Gauff has severely struggled since the grass-court season.
It is unknown who Gauff’s next coach will be. The 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick does not think she will rush to find a coach, especially since it is late in the season and the next Grand Slam is not until January.
Nonetheless, one notable figure66-year-old has publicly thrown her hat into the ring: Serena Williams’ ex-coach and current analyst, Rennae Stubbs, has admitted she would accept the the opportunity to work with Gauff if it arose.
Stubbs becoming Gauff’s coach would be ironic since she generated attention after criticizing Gauff’s second-serve technique while Gilbert stood beside her during ESPN’s US Open coverage.
The Australian was responding to a question on her podcast about why she was not Gauff’s new coach before declaring her interest. She told the fan it was not her decision and that Gauff, her parents, and her agent would decide the next coach.
“Because I don’t make those decisions Joe. Those decisions with any coaching situation comes from the agent. In respect to Coco Gauff, I would imagine her agent, her parents and then Coco. And the three of those will talk among themselves, I’m sure.”
Stubbs then said she would take the opportunity to be her coach. The 53-year-old also outlined her respect for Gauff, demonstrating that her criticism of the American’s serve was not personal and directed more at Gilbert.
“Of course, I would do it. I mean I wouldn’t say no to opportunity with a great player, there’s no way. But that’s not a decision for me to make. I love Coco, I think she’s an incredible kid. And I can say kid because she’s like more than half my age.”
“I think she’s an incredibly hard worker, I respect the heck out of her. She has only ever been an amazing person to be around. She responds to you, she looks you in the eye.”
Others have also praised Gauff’s impressive work ethic throughout her career. At 20, she is still a young player, meaning there is much time to fix the issues in her game.
