By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Coco Gauff's coaching team has been halved.
US Open champion Gauff confirmed Pere Riba, who along with Brad Gilbert guided her to a maiden major in Flushing Meadows, has departed her coaching team due to personal reasons.
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Brad Gilbert remains Gauff's coach and was on hand in Cancun where Gauff crushed two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur 6-0, 6-1 in her WTA Finals singles opener last night.
"Unfortunately it wasn't my decision, but we have to end the relationship," Gauff told the media in Cancun. "I have had a great time with him and I wish him all the best in his next venture.
"If it were up to me, I would have liked to have him here, but things happen and life is like that. We haven't ended up in bad ways, sometimes people want to [make] something out of what isn't. Some things didn't work out and that's it. I still think he's a great guy and he's done amazing things for me and my game, and I'm sure he'll be successful in his next challenge."
In comments to Spanish news agency MARCA, Riba confirmed the split was due to family reasons and predicted Gauff will rise to world No. 1 in 2024.
"[I left] due to family issues of a personal nature," Riba told MARCA. "I'm very happy with the work we've done together, because all the goals were met, and I'm convinced that next year Gauff will be number one."
Photo credit: Coco Gauff Instagram