In a surprising turn of events, the young American tennis sensation Coco Gauff has made a peculiar decision about her training team as she prepares for the highly anticipated US Open 2023. After packing her bags after an embarrassing 1st round loss at SW19, the 19-year-old has opted to team up with former Spanish men’s top 100 player Pere Riba. This move has caught the attention of tennis fans around the world, who are eagerly awaiting to see what this partnership can do in the upcoming tournaments.

Gauff’s partnership with 35-year-old veteran caused a stir among tennis enthusiasts worldwide when the pair decided to team up at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament at the end of June. This partnership has also quashed the rumors of Rick Macci providing specialized training to Gauff.

Coco Gauff joins forces with Pere Riba

This decision came despite her father, Corey Gauff, being an integral part of her coaching team. Gauff was drawn to Riba’s vibrant personality and extensive experience.

As reported by the Washington Post, Gauff shared with a laugh, hinting at the camaraderie and chemistry that she shares with her new coach, “He used to play on tour not too long ago. He’s pretty young for a coach, and he has a great personality. You have to travel with this person. You see them more than your family — you want to make sure you get along on and off the court”.

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“We’re working together right now through the U.S. Open, and obviously if things go well, we’ll continue after,” Gauff further shared.

The duo has set a crucial goal for their collaboration: transforming Gauff’s forehand from a defensive shot into a potent offensive weapon. At Wimbledon, her Western-grip forehand became a target for opponents like Sofia Kenin, who relentlessly exploited this vulnerability, leading to Gauff’s early elimination from the tournament. Some pundits and fans even noticed that her forehand shots were figuratively rolling on the floor.

With Riba’s guidance and expertise, Gauff is looking to add firepower and consistency to her forehand, which will make her a formidable force on the court. This change could prove to be a game changer for the young player, increasing her chances of success against top opposition in the future.

However, after the update by Patrick McEnroe in his podcast about Rick Macci approaching Gauff’s father to allow him to coach her to get her back in form, rumors of him joining Gauff’s coaching team were running high.

Gauff’s bold coaching choice, and response to Macci-led training rumors

Rumors about a potential coaching partnership between Coco Gauff and renowned coach Rick Macci, famously known for coaching the Williams sisters, had been circulating for a while. With Macci publicly offering advice to Gauff and suggesting the need for specialized training, the speculations seemed to gain credibility. However, those speculations were put to rest as Gauff made the decisive move to appoint Pere Riba as her new coach.

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At a time when her singles performance hasn’t been at its peak, and her best performance this year has been reaching the semifinals of Qatar Open, Gauff’s coaching decision has attracted attention. While the thought of working with a seasoned coach like Macci was intriguing, Gauff opted for a coach who brings a fresh perspective to her game.

By choosing Riba, Gauff seems to have expressed her desire for growth and evolution in her playing style. What do you think? Is Gauff finally going to clinch her long awaited Grand Slam title after this new alliance?

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