Andy Roddick enthusiastically endorses Coco Gauff’s choice of consultant

James Richardson
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Coco Gauff WTA Tour
Coco Gauff stoops to play a shot

Former World No 1 and the last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title, Andy Roddick appears to be delighted with Coco Gauff’s choice of consultant ahead of the Citi Open.

Gauff has struggled for a coaching solution this season having parted ways with Diego Moyano in April who worked as her main coach alongside her father who has always played a big role in helping direct her game.

Pere Riba was recently brought in to replace Moyano but in DC Gauff was spotted having a long conversation with renowned coach Brad Gilbert.

This revelation delighted Roddick, who responded to a Tweet chronicling the interaction with the words: “Hell yes.”

It is unclear if there is any official arrangement between Gauff and Gilbert at this stage.

Gauff has not competed on the WTA Tour since Wimbledon but reveals that she has been working hard on her game with her coach, having had just a couple of days off after her early exit from the third Grand Slam of the year.

“After a Grand Slam, people think you get, like, a couple weeks off, but it’s really just more like a couple days,” Gauff said, according to the Washington Post.

She says that she has found that she gets along well with Riba, who will coach her until at least the US Open when she will make a call on whether to extend the association.

“He used to play on tour not too long ago. He’s pretty young for a coach, and he has a great personality. You have to travel with this person. You see them more than your family — you want to make sure you get along on and off the court,” Gauff said, laughing. “We’re working together right now through the U.S. Open, and obviously if things go well, we’ll continue after.”

Gauff has revealed that her primary focus right now is her first-strike tennis.

“I should be playing that aggressive style, focusing on my serve plus one,” Gauff said.

“There are times I’ve served 126 miles per hour, and I think for me, you know, I’m not going to hit 126 every time. But I definitely want to increase my first-serve speed average. It’s not that I can’t get there; it’s that sometimes I need to trust in it. So it’s committing on the serve every single point.”

Gauff has achieved a lot at a very young age but feels that she isn’t yet at her peak as a player.

“I don’t even know when my prime would be. Based on everyone else right now, 23 or 24 is when I would start to feel really good,” Gauff said.

“Maturity-wise, there’s a lot I can learn. I’m still confused about how the tour is run, especially the business side of it when it comes to prize money and accommodations and press — there are definitely certain areas I just learn about by hearing other players talking, and I’m like, ‘I didn’t even think about that perspective.’ … Compared to the majority of the tour, I’m just beginning in a way.”

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