Coco Gauff reveals what it was actually like to be coached by Andy Roddick earlier this season

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Andy Roddick is still the last American player to win a grand slam with his 2003 US Open triumph.

Coco Gauff will be hoping to swiftly forget her dismal run at the Paris Olympics as she begins her US Open title defense at the National Bank Open in Toronto.

The 20-year-old marched to a famous comeback win against Aryna Sabalenka to secure her maiden major title in Flushing Meadows.

Mere weeks after a shock defeat in the opening round of Wimbledon, Gauff rallied back to win in New York and will be looking to defend her title in Cincinnati in the coming weeks.

With Gauff suffering a premature controversial exit to Donna Vekic, the American will be once again hoping she can turn her fortunes around before the US Open.

Her current coach Brad Gilbert has previously worked with Andy Roddick, who Gauff briefly worked with earlier this year.

What did Coco Gauff learn from Andy Roddick?

With both Roddick and Gauff known for their powerful game and big serves, the pair have plenty more in common, with both only having ever won one US Open.

Roddick recently praised Gauff, saying that his 20-year-old self was not nearly as mature as the young American starlet is now.

During her press conference ahead of the National Bank Open this week, Gauff touched on her time working with the former number one.

“Andy was really great to work with,” she explained, “We haven’t really got the chance to be in touch in person because he is pretty much in his own life, he is doing his podcast virtually, so I don’t think he travels as much.

“But it was really cool to learn some knowledge and he is one of the best servers ever. Any time you get an opportunity to learn from one of the best I think it’s great.”

Having hit an astonishing 9,074 aces in his career, Roddick sits sixth with John Isner’s 14,470 in top spot.

How successful was Andy Roddick’s career?

Roddick enjoyed a highly successful career after winning the 2003 US Open, his only Grand Slam title, and ranking as world number one for 13 weeks. 

Having reached four other grand slam finals, he was often thwarted by Roger Federer, who picked up 20 majors in his illustrious career.

The American did however leave tennis after retiring in 2012, with a positive head-to-head record against Novak Djokovic, despite suffering some heavy defeats to the Serb towards the end of his career.

While Gauff certainly looks capable of going on to win more than just the US Open, the pair’s career looks strikingly similar as they share coaches, titles, and a fierce on-court temperament.