Coco Gauff’s desperate Wimbledon plea to Brad Gilbert underlines frustration with man that inspired her US Open triumph
Coco Gauff let her frustration with coach Brad Gilbert show during her shock Wimbledon defeat on Sunday.
The American superstar was widely tipped to go all the way in SW19 but instead suffered defeat to Olympic teammate Emma Navarro.
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Losing 6-4 6-3, Gauff looked helpless as she appealed to her box for help from her coaches following a series of errors, including a double fault.
“Tell me something. You guys aren’t saying anything,” she shouted.
Gilbert tried to give her advice from the box and gestured a new series of tactics, but they had little impact as the 20-year-old failed to progress past the fourth round again after five times of trying.
Gauff is someone who is expected to dominate women's tennis for years to come.
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Having won her first grand slam at the US Open last year, Gauff followed it up with two semi-final appearances as the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year.
Wimbledon was hoped to be a tournament that she could challenge for, but her frustration at coach Gilbert during her defeat to Navarro is something that will no doubt weigh heavy given the manner of her exit.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Gilbert said: "I’ll tell you Coco’s two best qualities – she’s incredibly humble and hard working.
“She wants to get better and I think I’ve helped her a lot with a simple strategy in-match and understanding her opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.
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“When you start with somebody, that’s what you can do most. If you start messing with someone’s forehand or backhand – you can’t imagine the amount of texts I get saying ‘fix her forehand’ – really?
“Last I checked she does a lot of stuff really well so you know the things you have and try to get better.”
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Asked about how he analyses Gauff’s performances, he added: “These people are going to be really upset with me – do you know what analytics I use? Zero.
“I don’t use any data, nothing.
“I use my gut, I use my feel, I go and sit in the stand and watch the opponent – I just try and use the feel of what I’m seeing.
“I tell her opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and what she could look for and that’s it.
“Great player, when you play them, the data tells you one thing and they can make adjustments.”
With just seven weeks until the US Open gets underway, Gauff will be working tirelessly to get herself ready to defend her crown.
The final grand slam of the year, the American will be desperate to end the year on a high.
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