Patrick Mouratoglou analyses key improvement Coco Gauff made to win US Open
Renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou has highlighted Coco Gauff’s greater composure as the biggest improvement she made to help her win her first major title.
Mouratoglou also identified Coco Gauff’s movement and ability to defend as “by far the best of the women’s game” and feels “you can’t compare her with any woman.”
The Frenchman – who has previously worked with Gauff – has also coached Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune.
Gauff downed Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to win the 2023 US Open last week and become the youngest American to win a Grand Slam since Serena Williams in 1999.
The 19-year-old, who reached a career-high ranking of world No 3 on Monday, has won three of her last four tournaments and 18 of her last 19 matches.
In a video posted on his Instagram account, Mouratoglou identified the key difference that helped Gauff win her maiden Grand Slam crown.
“For me, the big difference that I see between the Coco of before and the Coco of today, is that she’s mentally more calm. She matured so much in the last two months. I’ve seen some big changes in her attitude on the court and the attitude is just a consequence of how you feel inside,” said the Frenchman.
“She had one match [that was] very key for me, was the one against Caroline Wozniacki – when she lost the second [set], was one [game] down in the third. And I could see – because I know her very well and I think it was obvious – the panic taking her completely.
“And from one point to the other, literally, she started to play unbelievable. She refused to lose. And if you look at the scenario of that final – same. She didn’t panic and that makes such a difference. She wasn’t able to do that two years ago. Now she is.
“We have to give credit to the guys who work with her – Pere Riba first and then Brad Gilbert. They did a great job at finding a way for her to keep her confidence.
“And the way she moves and her ability to defend and bring so many balls back, which is by far the best of the women’s game and you can’t compare her with any single woman. This is such an asset and actually she won this final thanks to that.
“But still, when panic was taking her she was unable to reach out to her fighting spirits. It was kind of leaving her, because the panic was taking over. So that was such a key element for her to win her first Grand Slam final.”
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