Earlier this month, legendary coach Brad Gilbert eventually announced the inevitable. “Coco, at just 20 years young, your future is incredibly bright, and I wish you nothing but continued success ahead. I’m excited for the next chapter in my coaching career,” he said on social media, ending his largely successful partnership with the American star. However, Gilbert’s void has been filled quickly as Coco Gauff got a new coach in Matt Daly.
Gauff added Daly to her coaching team alongside long-time mentor, Jean-Christophe (“JC”) Faurel. Interestingly, Daly is a former player but didn’t make it big, reaching a career-high ranking of 941 in 2003. Eventually, he turned to coaching and the 45-year-old has had quite some success in this field.
Daly, a former collegiate tennis player at Notre Dame, recently coached Denis Shapovalov on the ATP Tour. The two joined forces back in May 2023 but Daly had a forgettable time coaching the Canadian star. Shapovalov hardly found any success working with Daly and the two eventually split seven months later. Gauff began working with him shortly before the China Open. While Faurel continues to mentor Gauff, Daly will add a different dimension to Gauff’s game, which will hopefully get her form back on track.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
via Imago Coco Gauff, of the United States, celebrates after winning a point against Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, during the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Polls of the day Poll 1 of 22 Do you think Matt Daly will take Coco Gauff to the next level? Absolutely Maybe Not sure No way Do you think Coco Gauff should be mentored by Serena Williams’ ex-coach? Absolutely No way Maybe, but she needs someone else Only if she wants to Whats your Perspective on: Is Matt Daly the secret weapon Coco Gauff needs to dominate the tennis world? Have an interesting take? Join The Debate Do you think Iga Swiatek’s father’s departure will impact her performance on the court? Yes, significantly No, not at all Maybe, time will tell She’ll be even better Who do you think will have a better performance at the China Open? Coco Gauff Naomi Osaka Both will shine Neither will impress What do you think is the main reason behind Iga Swiatek’s recent decline in form? Pressure of expectations Injury concerns Lack of motivation Tough competition Do you think Iga Swiatek’s sudden absence is a cause for concern? Yes, definitely No, she’ll be back stronger Not sure, need more information Do you think Alexander Zverev’s withdrawal from the China Open is justified? Yes, he needs to focus on his health No, he should have played It’s a strategic move Not sure Do you think a Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal team-up will dominate the Davis Cup? Absolutely No way Maybe, but it’s too early to tell Only if they stay injury-free Do you agree with Jannik Sinner’s advice to Carlos Alcaraz on ATP scheduling? Absolutely Not at all Partially Need more context Should Serena Williams follow Roger Federer’s lead and create a similar initiative for WTA stars? Absolutely No way Maybe, but with a twist Only if she wants to Do you agree with Alexander Zverev’s criticism of the ATP? Absolutely Not at all Partially Need more information Do you think Naomi Osaka made the right decision by hiring Serena Williams’ ex-coach? Absolutely Not sure Terrible decision Time will tell Do you think Anna Kalinskaya’s brand switch will impact her performance on the court? Yes, positively Yes, negatively No, it won’t make a difference Not sure Who do you think will dominate the China Open match? Alycia Parks Wang Qiang Too close to call Do you agree with Andy Roddick’s defense of the Laver Cup format? Absolutely Not at all Somewhat I don’t care What do you think makes Roger Federer so intimidating on the court? His skill His mental toughness His charisma His experience Do you think Jannik Sinner’s diverse athletic background gives him an edge in tennis? Absolutely Maybe Not really No way Do you think Aryna Sabalenka has what it takes to become a tennis legend? Absolutely Maybe Not a chance Too early to tell Who do you think has had the most significant impact on Naomi Osaka’s career? Patrick Mouratoglou Wim Fissette Serena Williams Her own determination What do you think of Andrey Rublev’s advice to his younger self? Inspiring Heartwarming Overrated Unnecessary What do you think about Stefanos Tsitsipas’ admiration for Carlos Alcaraz? Genuine respect Strategic flattery Overhyped Heartwarming
Further, Coco Gauff even sounded excited about joining this new partnership. She revealed, “I think this is probably what it will look like next year too. I’m super excited for a new change and hopefully to improve other parts of my game. Working with Brad was really great and obviously we had a great partnership. It was just time to do a reset, a refresh and add some things in my game that I felt like I need to do to have a better season next year.”
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Before Daly joined forces with Gauff, the latter received many interesting options. One among them was Serena Williams’ ex-coach, Rennae Stubbs.
What did Rennae Stubbs say about coaching Coco Gauff?
Toward the end of Williams’ playing career, Stubbs worked with the American legend as she looked to cap off her career on a high. Stubbs was Williams’ coach at the 2022 US Open, which was her last tournament. Interestingly, the 24-time Grand Slam champion managed to pull off two amazing victories before losing against Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round. With memories flashing back to those times, some called for Stubbs to join forces with Gauff.
ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad
Asked if she would like to coach Gauff, Stubbs mentioned, “Of course, I would do it. Yeah. I mean, I wouldn’t say no to an opportunity to work with a great player, and there’s no way. Of course, I would do it, but that’s not a decision for me to make. And I love Coco. I think she’s an incredible kid.”
Apart from Stubbs, the likes of Nick Kyrgios and Naomi Osaka’s former coach, Sascha Bajin were also in the reckoning to replace Brad Gilbert. But with Daly joining Gauff’s coaching team, things look settled now and the American sensation will look to cap off her season on a high.