Emma Navarro is all set to battle the defending champion, Coco Gauff, in the R4 at the US Open. And while she has her family, friends, coach, and her whole team to support her through the last Grand Slam, there is one person who has been crucial in her preparation for major matches this season. Navarro’s highly acclaimed hitting partner, Gaston Murray. As the season is about to wrap up, everyone is curious about the hidden ace in Navarro’s team.

Murray, as Navarro’s hitting partner, is helping her get ready for the blockbuster clash against Gauff, but who is Murray? The 30-year-old LTP Academy head coach has an accomplished profile. He was a Division-1 Student-Athlete at UNCG Men’s Tennis Team and holds the certification in USPTA Professional and Coach Youth Tennis.

Navarro is not the first top WTA athlete Gaston Murray has helped on the tour. He has also helped the four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka as her hitting partner in the past. He was also a part of the U.S. FED CUP Team in 2018 for the finals in Prague. This is not all. At such a young age, Murray stepped into the shoes of Men’s Assistant Tennis Coach at The Citadel and a Teaching Professional at the I’ON Club.

It has been quite some time since Navarro and Murray collaborated. He was there at the Wimbledon championships, where Navarro stunned the World No.3 Coco Gauff in the R4. And Murray is here again at the US Open with Navarro. Whether the outcome would be the same as London or not, is awaited.

Emma Navarro’s 2024 season has been a remarkable one. The American tennis star rose to World No.12 from World No.38 in November 2023. Moreover, she made it to the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon Championships and won Hobart International. Today, she would be battling Gauff for the quarterfinal spot at the US Open.

It’s a smart move on Navarro’s side, to hire a professional like Murray who has vast experience with top players in different situations. But with Murray on Navarro’s team, the fans would certainly think: who is helping Gauff this season as the hitting partner? Let’s find out.

Who is Coco Gauff’s hitting partner at the US Open as she gets ready to face Emma Navarro in R4?

Gauff’s season has been anything but amazing since Roland Garros. Some fans who had high expectations from the young American tennis star would say the whole season was underwhelming for the World No.3 and that’s because things took a turn for the worse at the Wimbledon Championships. At the Roland Garros, Gauff reached the singles semi-final and won the doubles title. But in London, Navarro ousted her in the R4, and then Gauff’s Paris Olympics stint was no better. She lost to Donna Vekic before making it to the quarter-finals.

At the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Masters, she made an early exit again. Hence, it becomes all the more important to look at Gauff’s hitting partner. Last year, it was Jarmere Jenkins who was beside Gauff as her hitting partner when she won her first Grand Slam at the US Open. And her team has more or less remained the same, with Jenkins still there, alongside Riba and Gilbert.

Jenkins was the hitting partner for the 23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams as well, when she returned to the circuit after maternity leave. So while Navarro has a very efficient hitting partner, it’s no different for Gauff.

However, the practice will take a backseat now as it’s time to deliver the performance at one of the biggest stages. Do you think Coco Gauff will continue her winning run or Emma Navarro will end her campaign at the US Open? Let us know in the comments below.