19-Year-Old Coco Gauff’s Change in Attitude Revealed as American Tennis Legend Chris Evert Heaps Praise on Her Strategic Move

Coco Gauff and her former coach, Diego Moyano, parted ways in April owing to the Argentinian coach’s personal issues. Following the unexpected split, the teenager worked with her father temporarily for her French Open run. For her next tournaments, she hired Pere Riba, a young coach at the beginning of his career. Riba previously coached Qinwen Zheng, who is just a year older than Gauff. After the clay season, the American struggled to secure important wins. It prompted Gauff to make an important decision that won plaudits from American tennis legend, Chris Evert.

For the Citi Open in Washington, Gauff worked with Brad Gilbert. This move by Gauff was lauded by pundits, fans, enthusiasts, and legends alike. It also caught the attention of Chris Evert, who expressed her honest take on Gilbert coaching Gauff.

Chris Evert applauds Coco Gauff for hiring Andre Agassi’s former coach

The 19-year-old had a roller-coaster ride in the past 4 months as she worked with three coaches back-to-back. It was finally Gilbert, with whom Gauff secured the biggest win of her career. Thus, fans and legends are urging the Citi Open champion to make the American coach a permanent member of her team.

Gauff’s compatriot Evert took to her Twitter handle to applaud the move while expressing how the young sensation looked at ease, with Gilbert by her side. The 18-time Grand Slam winner shared an article by ‘Tennis Infinity,’ and wrote, “smart move! She also looked more relaxed last week! 👏👍.”

Gilbert also worked with the team of ‘Challengers,’ Zendaya’s upcoming film based on tennis. He coached the Euphoria star and the British actor Josh O’Connor. With the 61-year-old’s coaching expertise, legends are sure that the duo would make wonders, including another American tennis legend, who lauded the coach soon after Gauff reached the finals in Washington.

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Pam Shriver lauded the move even before Coco Gauff’s Citi Open win

Shriver, who won 111 doubles titles in her career, expressed her appreciation for Gilbert through her Twitter account. She wrote that Gauff’s fastball serve has improved in such a short time and credited the success to Agassi’s former coach. Shriver was impressed with the positive coaching impact on Gauff’s game.

The former WTA doubles No. 1 did not confirm Gilbert as her permanent main coach yet. Gauff won 4 matches in straight sets, a feat she achieved for the first time. The American will now play Katie Boulter, who is on a 3-match winning streak, in the Canadian Open.

Gauff and Boulter have played each other once in their careers, with the latter winning the match. It was 2 years ago, in the Gippsland trophy, when Gauff was still in the early stage of her career. Even then, she did not lose in straight sets to the British No. 1. Gauff won one set of the three, and the Canadian Open format is also the same as the match they previously played.

Will Gauff get the better of Boulter, or will the latter advance to the next round? Let us know in the comments.

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