World No. 3 Coco Gauff has parted ways with her coach Pere Riba, soon after tasting Grand Slam success together at the 2023 US Open.
Gauff and Riba first joined hands ahead of the 2023 Eastbourne International in June, with the Spaniard serving as her head coach. Gauff later hired Brad Gilbert as a coaching consultant; Gilbert previously worked with the likes of Andre Agassi and Andy Murray.
The 19-year-old won three titles under the duo’s guidance. The first came at the Citi Open, a WTA 500 event, and the second at the Cincinnati Open, a WTA 1000 tournament.
The third and the most significant one came at the 2023 US Open. It was Gauff’s maiden Grand Slam title, and it also made her the first teenager to win the trophy since Serena Williams in 1999.
Gauff achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 3 after her exploits at Flushing Meadows.
However, Coco Gauff and Pere Riba have now ended their successful partnership, five months after getting together. The American confirmed the news during an interview after winning her first match at the WTA Finals against Ons Jabeur on October 30.
She said she would have preferred Riba to stay with her, but that the decision was ultimately not hers. She also said they are on good terms, and that she wishes the Spaniard success in his future pursuits.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t my decision. But we had to end the partnership. If it was up to me, I would have loved to have him here. But you know, things happen. Life happens. So no bad terms on our end,” Coco Gauff said. (Quotes via WTA’s official website)
“Sometimes people think it’s bigger than what it is. But some things just didn’t work out and that’s all. I still think that he was a great guy. And obviously, he did amazing things for me personally and also for my game. So I’m sure he’s going to be successful in his next step,” she added.
Coco Gauff faces Iga Swiatek next at the WTA Finals 2023
<img class="lazy-img" width="1920" height="1280" data-img="https://news.myworldfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a29f2-16987330070674-1920.jpg" alt="Coco Gauff in action at the 2023 WTA Finals" data-img-low="https://news.myworldfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a29f2-16987330070674-1920.jpg?w=840" src="data:image/svg+xml,” srcset=”https://news.myworldfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a29f2-16987330070674-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https://news.myworldfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a29f2-16987330070674-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https://news.myworldfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a29f2-16987330070674-1920.jpg?w=840 840w, https://news.myworldfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a29f2-16987330070674-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https://news.myworldfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a29f2-16987330070674-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https://news.myworldfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a29f2-16987330070674-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https://news.myworldfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a29f2-16987330070674-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https://news.myworldfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a29f2-16987330070674-1920.jpg 1920w”>Coco Gauff secured the first WTA Finals win of her career on Monday, defeating Tunisian Ons Jabeur 6-0, 6-1 in a match delayed by rain for over an hour. She faces former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the second group stage match.
The duo have met nine times on the tour, with the Pole winning eight of them, including their most recent encounter at the 2023 China Open.
Gauff did not have a successful campaign at the WTA Finals last year, losing to Caroline Garcia, Daria Kasatkina and Swiatek in the group stage. She would be hoping to make amends with a strong run in Cancun this year.