Coaching in tennis is always important as even GOATs like Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic never liked to operate on tour without a good coaching team but for Coco Gauff it became a collateral during her defeat to Emma Navarro at Wimbledon according to notable tennis voice Gill Gross.
The sensational American lost her R4 tie against compatriot in straight sets and she was clearly irked with her coaching team throughout the match as the youngster felt she needed more input from Brad Gilbert and Jean-Christophe Faurel.
Following the match, Gauff admitted that she expected more help from her coaching box which was missing.
“We had a game plan going in. I felt that it wasn’t working. I don’t always ask for advice on the box. Today was one of those rare moments where I felt I didn’t have solutions,” she explained.
“I don’t want to say I didn’t have any because I think I’m a capable player of coming up with some. I think today mentally there was a lot going on. I felt like I wanted more direction from the box.
“It’s happened before. I wouldn’t say it’s happened before with the combination of JC and Brad, but it’s happened before in the past where I felt like I needed more direction. They usually give me something.
“I felt today I don’t think we were all in sync. It’s no one’s blame except myself. I mean, I’m the player out there. I have to make decisions for myself on the court.”
Coaching has now become a crucial part of majors after it was approved at the start of 2023 season and, while some players like to hear a lot from sidelines, others prefer not to communicate with their box during matches.
Gross who works at Tennis Channel, believes on-court coaching proved a distraction for Gauff.
“I’ve always accepted the line of thinking that legalized on-court coaching unburdens the players — makes it easier for them to perform tactically and emotionally,” he wrote on X.
“But I just saw it go the opposite direction. Coco seemed to let the possibility of coaching consume all her focus.”
Even her opponent Navarro admitted that she was helped by Gauff’s frustrations.
“I don’t normally give the other side of the court too much energy,” she said. “I keep it on my side of the court. Yeah, I guess seeing her kind of frustrated and looking at her box, putting her arms up in the air, it’s definitely a little bit of a confidence boost.”
Next up for the 20-year-old are the Paris Olympics and North American hard-court swing with Gauff defending a lot of points on home soil as she clinched titles at the DC Citi Open, Cincinnati Open and New York major.
But it is not just the coaching situation that will be a concern as she has also incurred losses against top-20 players in 2024 season.
The World #2 has played 11 matches against top-20 players and surprisingly only won 4, which shows a significant dip in her form that seemed blistering a year ago.
World No 1 Iga Swiatek leads the list as she is 17-2 (89.47%) and she is followed by Aryna Sabalenka (10-4 – 71.43%), Elena Rybakina – (9-4 – 69.23%), Danielle Collins (7-6 – 53.85%). Gauff, meanwhile, has a 36.36% win-loss record.