Brad Gilbert told exactly what is going wrong with Coco Gauff after her US Open exit in very awkward exchange

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Coco Gauff, the defending US Open champion, is out of the competition in just the fourth round.

Once again thwarted by Emma Navarro, just as she was a few months ago at Wimbledon, it seems her compatriot really has her number at the moment, capitalising on her continued poor form.

However, it was once again Brad Gilbert stealing the headlines after the match, with his comments on Coco Gauff drawing scrutiny.

Brad Gilbert told big Coco Gauff weakness

Speaking on ESPN after his student’s exit from the US Open, Gilbert sought to explain the thoughts behind Gauff’s service alteration that broke down her game against Navarro.

He claimed: ‘It’s funny because we go to the practice courts and it’s fine, it hasn’t been a problem but all of a sudden. 

‘Listen, for me the most important thing that has to get right is when you are in a situation being able to hit one speed. Okay, just hit 85 in the middle of the box, a working serve and move on because with the women it’s a little different to men’s second serves and a lot of women are more aggressive on the second serve return. I still feel like it’s just that one constant speed, being able to hit in the middle of the box like 85, 90.

‘Serena had a massive first serve but she didn’t have a massive second but she had a great working serve that she could rely on.’

However, just months after Rennae Stubbs called out Brad Gilbert at Wimbledon, she is back for more: ‘Sometimes she [Gauff] was hitting in in the mid-90’s, then she was hitting it a bit slower in the middle, there is no second serve which is the same. That’s a problem. 

‘Under pressure bad technique breaks down and her technique, and it’s hard for me to say it as Brad is sitting here as her coach, but the technique – the elbow is too low, the grip I feel like is a little weird as well, so it’s hard for her to get that nice massaging feel on her serve.

‘She served great in practice but I hate to say this, most people serve great in practice because they don’t have 15,000 people watching.’

Rennae Stubbs admitted she felt sorry for Gauff ahead of the US Open. Now we know why.

Could a coaching change be on the cards for Coco Gauff?

Whilst one American male is enjoying one of his finest-ever runs at a Grand Slam, having changed his coach back in July, Gauff is clearly struggling with hers.

Frances Tiafoe and David Witt have struck up an instant partnership mid-way through what had arguably been one of the toughest seasons of his career.

Falling in the first and second rounds of so many events, heading into the hard-court swing of the tour, few expected much from him.

And yet, he soared to the final of the Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, and now has a very real chance of claiming the ultimate silverware in New York.

Gauff was similarly catapulted to success under Gilbert’s leadership last year, but it’s fair to say that 2024 has not quite been as profitable.

And now, enduring a similarly torrid run of form, it remains to be seen whether a coaching change could be on the cards for her.

Perhaps it might be just the change she needs, with Gilbert continuously causing controversy with his comments after each loss it seems.