Coco Gauff has failed to defend her US Open title after suffering a fourth round loss to Emma Navarro.
Gauff clinched her one and only Grand Slam singles title to date at the 2023 US Open, where she beat Aryna Sabalenka.
But there was no such magical run for the young American this time around, with compatriot Navarro spoiling the party.
It was a repeat of their fourth round Wimbledon clash, which Navarro also won at the All England Club earlier this summer.
There is likely to be quite the fallout following this latest defeat, with many tennis fans left wondering why Gauff is in such poor form.
Tennis fans call for Coco Gauff to split with Brad Gilbert
Many tennis fans believe the answer lies with Gauff’s coach Brad Gilbert, who she started working with in 2023.
One fan took to X to tell Gauff what to do now, saying: “Coco needs to fire Brad Gilbert immediately. Her game & mentality have nosedived to the floor under him. While Brad took all the credit, it’s become clear as daylight that it was Pere Riba who was responsible for Coco’s success last summer. She’s spiralled since his departure.”
A second said: “My honest advice to Coco Gauff is to sack Brad Gilbert. He became Gauff head coach in November 2023 and her game has regressed since then. Brad loves himself more than anyone else and that doesn’t work if you are a Head Coach.”
A third simply said: “Gauff, two words: new, coach,” with a fourth commenting: “Coco Gauff needs a new coach or new team or something. No reason for her to play that way.”
A fifth tennis fan noted: “Seems like it’s time for Gauff to part ways with Brad Gilbert because it doesn’t seem like he’s helping her at all. Her entire coaching staff needs an overhaul.”
And another commented: “Coco Gauff 100% needs a new coach. Talking about confidence being the difference maker and then your coach is on the media panel immediately after can’t be good for confidence.”
Will Coco Gauff get a new coach?
Gauff certainly didn’t start the year badly, with the 20-year-old reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and French Open.
But it was a disappointing summer overall, with the American suffering early exits at Wimbledon, the Olympics, the Canadian Open, the Cincinnati Open and now the US Open.
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Gauff praised her coaches this summer, although she has also had her frustrations with her team during matches.
Against Navarro at Wimbledon, Gauff fumed at her coaches, although interestingly Gilbert has the backing of John McEnroe, who says he is ‘one of the best coaches that’s been around’.
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