Two of tennis’ biggest stars, Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka, have made significant coaching changes following underwhelming performances at the US Open, signaling major transitions in their careers.
Gauff Ends Partnership with Brad Gilbert
American tennis sensation Coco Gauff, currently ranked world number six, has ended her coaching partnership with Brad Gilbert, just two weeks after a “disappointing” US Open title defense.
Gauff, 20, had won her first Grand Slam title under Gilbert’s guidance at the US Open in 2022, but this year, she fell in the fourth round to fellow American Emma Navarro, raising questions about her form.
Gilbert, a seasoned coach who has guided Grand Slam champions such as Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, announced the split on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“Coco, at just 20 years young, your future is incredibly bright, and I wish you nothing but continued success ahead.” He added, “Thanks to Coco and the entire team for an absolutely amazing summer run in 2023 and for 14 months of incredible team effort.”
Gauff initially hired Gilbert after a first-round exit at Wimbledon in 2022, which was followed by a remarkable comeback as she claimed victories in Washington, Cincinnati, and ultimately, her first Grand Slam in New York.
However, despite reaching semi-finals in the Australian Open and French Open this year, she struggled to maintain consistency, with her serve and forehand in particular drawing criticism after hitting 19 double faults in her loss to Navarro.
Osaka Announces Split from Wim Fissette
In a similar move, former world number one Naomi Osaka has also parted ways with her coach, Wim Fissette, following her second-round exit at this year’s US Open.
Osaka, 26, who has won four Grand Slam titles, announced the split via Instagram, saying, “4 years, 2 Slams and a whole lot of memories. Thanks, Wim, for being a great coach and an even greater person.”
Fissette, who worked with Osaka during her 2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open victories, has a reputation for coaching elite players, including Victoria Azarenka, Kim Clijsters, and Simona Halep.
He expressed gratitude for his time with Osaka, noting on Instagram:
“In 15 years on tour, this was one of my best years working together with amazing people. From every defeat, we worked harder and better and grew a lot.”
Osaka, currently ranked No. 75, cited frustration after her loss to Karolina Muchova in the US Open’s second round, describing the defeat as personally devastating:
“It’s like a dramatic word, but I feel like my heart dies every time I lose.”
Both Gauff and Osaka’s decisions reflect the pressures and challenges faced by top athletes striving for consistency and success in the highly competitive world of professional tennis.
As both players look toward new coaching paths, their fans remain hopeful that these changes will reinvigorate their careers and lead to future victories.
