Coco Gauff developed good form when she joined hands with Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert earlier this year. However, their partnership did not last for long as Riba and Gauff announced a split, citing personal issues on Riba’s end. Riba eventually sorted out his personal issues and went back to guide a young Chinese WTA star. He recently came out to defend his decision.

When the news of Riba rejoining the team of the Chinese star went public, fans hounded him for ditching Gauff. Many believed he blew Gauff off for her, and Riba has recently spoken out to put any rumors to rest.

Coco Gauff’s ex-coach opens up on the decision to rejoin Qinwen Zheng

Before Riba joined Gauff’s team, he was a prime guide for the 21-year-old Qinwen Zheng. Riba and Zheng began working together in 2021 and split after the French Open this year. Riba decided to join the team of Gauff and helped her to her first WTA 500, Masters and grand slam. The two shared the news of a split at the end of October, which surprised fans.

Riba cited personal and family issues for taking a step back from coaching. But now he is back at putting his skills to use and will guide Zheng in 2024. Interviewing with Punto De Break, he said, “In life there are some situations in which you are not sure how much time you will need to solve those unforeseen events, they are situations that come without warning.”

He then explained how he rejoined Zheng, “We tried to continue on both sides, but in the end we couldn’t get it for 2024, and that’s how everything has been going. My personal situation changed, I had been off for more than a month and that’s when Qinwen appeared. I only went back to work once I set my personal issues.”

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Riba’s decision to explain the move came after Coco Gauff fans hounded him for leaving their favorite for the young Chinese star.

Coco Gauff fans criticize Riba

Not many took well to Pere Riba’s statement of ending a partnership with Gauff for personal and family issues. However, since he reunited with Zheng, the sentiment has changed entirely. One fan ended up calling him a shmuck for first leaving Zheng for Gauff and then leaving Gauff for Zheng. Many fans doubted his words when he said that he didn’t want to travel too much.

Meanwhile, another fan recalled his statement when he said that he had to deal with the family business and said that they had called it a lie from the start. Riba has shared his statement regarding the split and why he is back to coaching so soon after splitting with Gauff. However, her fans are not having it. What do you think? Is there more to this situation than meets the eye?

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