Former coach Pere Riba, who had been instrumental in Coco Gauff’s journey, is optimistic about her future despite their recent separation. Riba firmly believes that the young American tennis sensation has the potential to rise to the World No. 1 spot in the upcoming year.
Riba assumed the role of Gauff’s coach in June 2023, and under his guidance, alongside Brad Gilbert, who later joined in August, Gauff achieved remarkable success. She clinched three titles, including the Citi Open, the Cincinnati Open, and the prestigious US Open. Witness the best tennis game ever with attractive betting odds from Nextbet.
Gauff’s triumph at the US Open was particularly historic as she secured her first Grand Slam title, becoming the first teenager to achieve this feat since Serena Williams in 1999.
Pere Riba, reflecting on their journey, spoke to Spanish news outlet Marca on Tuesday, stating that he would no longer continue as Coco Gauff’s coach due to personal family issues. However, he expressed immense pride in their collective accomplishments and remained steadfast in his belief that she would reach the pinnacle of women’s tennis next year.
“Due to personal family issues. I am very happy with the work we have done together, because all the objectives were met, and I am convinced that next year Gauff will be No. 1,” Pere Riba said.
During Riba’s tenure as Gauff’s coach, she reached a career-high ranking of World No. 3, an impressive feat placing her only behind World No. 2 Iga Swiatek and the reigning World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
In a podcast appearance on “Advantage Connors” in September 2023, Darren Cahill, a former Australian tennis player and coach, discussed Brad Gilbert’s impact on Coco Gauff’s game and the improvements he had brought to her performance.
“He’s making sure she is walking and playing to her best more often. And as you know, a lot of good coaching comes from selling belief and giving that player belief to firstly see that they could just care about them, that they believe in them and they are willing to do whatever it takes to let them become a better tennis player. And Brad is certainly of that nature,” Cahill remarked.
Cahill also acknowledged the importance of Pere Riba’s contribution to Gauff’s journey, noting that Riba had been with her for the same duration as Brad Gilbert. He emphasized that a dual coaching setup’s success hinges on having both a great coach and a supportive team environment.
“But I think some credit also has to go to the other coach who has been with her since the start of Wimbledon. He was with her for pretty much the same time, and to make a dual coaching team work, there has to be a great coach and a great environment within the team,” Cahill emphasized.
Before his collaboration with Coco Gauff, Brad Gilbert had a rich coaching history, having mentored tennis legends like Andre Agassi, Andy Murray, and Andy Roddick. Meanwhile, Pere Riba co-founded GRTennis in Barcelona, focusing on the development of junior and professional players. He also previously coached Chinese tennis star Qinwen Zheng from 2021 to 2023.
As Coco Gauff continues her promising career, her journey in the tennis world remains an exciting and evolving story to watch. With a new coaching dynamic and remarkable achievements already under her belt, the future looks bright for this young talent. Get the latest updates from the world of tennis only on Nextbet Sports.
