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Coco Gauff’s coach admits he was scared he might get a warning for what he wanted to tell her during her loss at Wimbledon

Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
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Coco Gauff’s coach Brad Gilbert was worried he would be punished for what he wanted to tell the World number two during her Wimbledon quarter-final.

The 20-year-old suffered a shock straight sets defeat to American compatriot Emma Navarro in the fourth round.

Gauff was seen gesturing to her box during the contest as she struggled to find a way to repel the onslaught from the 19th seed.

The second seed’s communication with her team was a big talking point after her surprising loss at a tournament where many expected her to win.

What did Coco Gauff’s coach Brad Gilbert not want to say during her Wimbledon quarter-final?

Gauff’s coach Brad Gilbert joined John McEnroe and Chris Evert on ESPN at Wimbledon to discuss what happened during her fourth round match.

Coaching from the box is now permitted in tennis matches and Gauff was seen telling her team: “Tell me something. You guys aren’t saying anything.”

Both Gauff and her Gilbert looked equally as frustrated as the player began to commit more errors. During his conversation with the tennis legends, Gilbert shared how he wanted to advise Gauff, but was unsure if it would get him into trouble.

“I was trying to do that [tell Gauff to go to the backhand with shape] and I was hoping not to get like a coaching warning because I was doing it when she was on the opposite side,” the 62-year-old said. “I was like let’s get into backhand to backhand exchanges and put some shape on the ball.”

Previews: The Championships - Wimbledon 2024
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

When did Coco Gauff start working with Brad Gilbert?

Gauff hired Brad Gilbert in July 2023 as a consultant and just two months later she won her first Grand Slam title.

Prior to success at Flushing meadows, the player claimed the title in Washington and Cincinnati, with the latter including her only victory over World number one Iga Swiatek.

She then became the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999 by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final.

Ahead of the clay-court season in April, Gauff added former coach Jean-Cristophe Faurel to her team, who she worked with as a teenager.