In a recent episode of the Tennis Channel Inside In podcast, renowned coach Eric Riley shed light on how Brad Gilbert’s coaching has been instrumental in guiding Coco Gauff to her first Grand Slam victory. Riley emphasized the necessity for Gauff to evolve her game to secure success in 2024, and he credited Gilbert’s experience as a crucial factor in this process.
Riley stated, “The quality of the work that you did to win the US Open is not going to win you in 2024, is not going to win a major. So, Brad knows that. She’s going to have to play better this year, and she’s gonna have to improve between shots. You got to work on weaknesses. You got to build confidence.”
Highlighting Gilbert’s understanding of the evolving tennis landscape, Riley acknowledged that Gauff needs to elevate her game this year and address her weaknesses. The coach emphasized the importance of building confidence and making strategic improvements to compete at the highest level.
In an earlier interview with Euro Sport, Brad Gilbert shared insights into Gauff’s progress and the high standards she sets for herself. He said, “If you asked [Gauff] at the start of 2023, her expectations were high. She sets a high standard, and she’s driven to get better. She’s never satisfied. She wants to achieve things — that’s all she’s thinking about.”
Gilbert expressed confidence in Gauff’s abilities and highlighted her unwavering drive to improve. Looking ahead, he discussed the duo’s plan to experiment with new strategies in the quest to secure another Grand Slam victory in 2024.
While opinions may vary on Coco Gauff’s chances in the upcoming Grand Slam events, her coach Brad Gilbert remains optimistic, emphasizing the player’s relentless pursuit of excellence and the strategic approach they are adopting to meet the challenges of the evolving tennis landscape in the new season.
Coco Gauff in 2024
At the moment ranked no.3 (career-high), Gauff played her last match on the 25th of January when she lost to world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(2) 6-4 in the semifinal of the Australian Open (draw).
During this season Coco has managed to achieve a compiled 10-1 record. Gauff conquered 1 title in Auckland.
Gauff will play next in Doha (Qatar TotalEnergies Open). She will start from the main draw that will commence on the 12th of February.