Coco Gauff parts ways with coach Pere Riba after Grand Slam glory
Coco Gauff has parted ties with her coach, Pere Riba, only months after they achieved a Grand Slam triumph together at the 2023 US Open.
Gauff and Riba initially worked together in June in preparation for the 2023 Eastbourne International, with the Spaniard serving as her head coach. Later, Gauff employed Brad Gilbert as a coaching consultant; Gilbert has worked with Andre Agassi and Andy Murray.
Under their tutelage, the 19-year-old won three titles. The first occurred in the Citi Open, a WTA 500 event, while the second happened at the Cincinnati Open, a WTA 1000 event.
The third and most significant occurred in the 2023 US Open. It was Gauff’s first Grand Slam triumph, and she became the youngest teenager to do it since Serena Williams in 1999.
Following her exploits at Flushing Meadows, Gauff attained a career-high singles rating of World No. 3.
Coco Gauff and Pere Riba, on the other hand, abandoned their great partnership five months after they began. On October 30, the American confirmed the news in an interview after winning her opening match at the WTA Finals against Ons Jabeur.
She stated that while she would have loved Riba to stay with her, the decision was ultimately not hers. She also said that they are on good terms and wished the Spaniard well in his future endeavors.
“Unfortunately, it was not my choice. But we had to call it quits. If it had been up to me, I would have had him here. But, you know, stuff happens. Life is unpredictable. So no harsh terms on our end,” Coco Gauff remarked. (WTA official website quotes)
“Sometimes people mistake it for something greater than it is. However, some things did not work out. I still think he was a wonderful person. And, obviously, he did incredible things for both me and my game. So I’m confident he’ll be successful in his next step,” she continued.
Breaking news from our own @Chanda_Rubin and @LDavenport76, Pere Riba is no longer part of the Coco Gauff coaching team ?#WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/40PimgxlZC
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 31, 2023
Coco Gauff will face Iga Swiatek in the WTA Finals 2023
Coco Gauff won her maiden WTA Finals match on Monday, defeating Tunisian Ons Jabeur 6-0, 6-1 in a game that was delayed for nearly an hour due to rain. In the second group stage match, she takes against former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
The pair have met nine matches on the circuit, with the Pole winning eight of them, including their most recent meeting at the 2023 China Open.
Gauff did not have a great WTA Finals campaign last year, losing in the group stage to Caroline Garcia, Daria Kasatkina, and Swiatek. She’d like to make apologies for a great showing in Cancun this year.
Read more:
At the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, Novak Djokovic and David Beckham enjoy a joyful moment
