“I had some offers, but I will say I was looking for the right player,” said former American pro Brad Gilbert when he first joined American sensation Coco Gauff’s team as she entered the 2023 US Open. In the two weeks that followed, the then 19-year-old went on to create history as, under her new mentor, she became the first American teen since the legendary Serena Williams in 1999 to grab the trophy at Flushing Meadows. While the two are not working together anymore since last September, Gilbert still thinks highly of the World No.3. After Gauff went through a dry run this year, she made a big comeback at the Madrid Open last week with a confidence-boosting campaign. And her ex-coach has now expressed his take while reflecting on her key characteristic as a tough player.

After reaching the QF of the Australian Open, Gauff struggled for form throughout the Middle East swing and then the Sunshine Double as well. At the Qatar Open, Dubai, Indian Wells Masters, and Miami Open, she crashed out in R32, R32, R16, and then R16 again. But the Madrid Open turned out to be a breath of fresh air for the 21-year-old. On the clay surface, she went on to reach the summit clash before World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka bested her in straight sets.

Nonetheless, it was a phenomenal effort by the American, and her former coach, Brad Gilbert, has acknowledged it with a solid remark on her never-give-up attitude. Especially considering how she began the Madrid campaign in the first place. In an interaction with the Tennis Channel, dated May 9, Gilbert was asked to express what he liked the most about Gauff in Madrid.

The former ATP World No. 4 began, “She got bageled the first set of the first round, and it just shows you sometimes you fight your way out of a match. Good things can happen.” Playing against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska in her opening match, Gauff had a nightmarish start. Yastremska thrashed her 6-0 in the first set. It looked like the Americans would face yet another early-round exit in 2025.

But she fought back brilliantly. But how did she do it? After leveling the battle in the second set, Gauff pushed it into a decider. Eventually, she advanced further in the event with a final score line of 0-6, 6-2, 7-5. It was after four years, and just the second time in her career, that she won a match after trailing 0-6 in the first set. Back in 2021, she similarly defeated Elise Mertens.

In the R32 of the Eastbourne International, Gauff emerged victorious with a scoreline of 0-6, 7-6, 7-5. Gilbert added, “That’s such a big difference for a lot of players, finding ways to get through matches that I call the 50-50 matches. Maybe the less than 50 percent matches you are not feeling great, but you find a way to get through those matches.”

He concluded, “That gives you the opportunity to play better, you know, as the tournament goes on, and sometimes it relaxes you more than anything. Sometimes when you escape a first-round match, it’s like house money.” After getting back to winning ways in Madrid, Gauff would like to stretch it further. Especially to prepare for the big clay challenge in the French Open later this month.

Coco Gauff hopes to make a triumphant run in Rome ahead of the Roland Garros

Despite missing the chance to lift the trophy in Madrid, Coco Gauff embraced the setback with a smile. At least she was able to impress with her performance after a long phase, for this reason, right? Taking to X, she wrote, “Thank you Madrid❤️ not the outcome I was hoping for today, but a lot to be proud of. Leaving here with my head up and more motivation to work even harder to do better next time🙏🏾 #Godstiming.” 

The World No.3 then reiterated this sentiment during a pre-event press conference in Rome. Ahead of her Italian Open campaign, she reflected on her Madrid run while revealing that she felt “super happy to be back in Rome, excited to hopefully capitalize and you know, do one better than I did in Madrid.” Well, that’s a sign of her uplifted morale after Madrid.

She’s been able to reach the semis twice at the Italian Open in the past. So, one can assume she’s got a much-needed form at the moment to make it one better this time. And who knows if she ends up lifting the trophy as well? The American WTA star will kick off her journey in Rome on Friday. She’s set to take on Canada’s Victoria Mboko. Do you think Gauff will be able to make a deep run at the Italian Open? Let us know in the comments below.