US Open champion Coco Gauff has opened up on the role that veteran tennis coach Brad Gilbert plays in her technical team.
Gauff has clarified that Gilbert operates as a consultant within her team.
She praised her team for their clear communication and united vision for her game.
At a press conference in Beijing, Gauff was asked to expand on what Gilbert does within her team.
The US Open champion revealed that Gilbert does a good job of letting her know what the coaching team are trying to achieve.
She feels that Gilbert has been able to break through her stubbornness and get coach Pere Riba’s message across to her.
“I think he obviously has a lot of experience in the game,” Gauff said of Gilbert.
“I feel like he knows the things to say in the tough moments in the match sometimes.
“We have two different personalities. Brad, he likes to say a lot. I’m more someone who can be stubborn in a way. I think being with him has allowed me to open my mind up to accept advice more. I don’t know, just the way he says it makes you want to do it.
“The way that him and Pere work, honestly I don’t know how they work together, but obviously, they do well. They communicate a lot when I’m not there.”
Gauff says that Gilbert and Riba have chipped away at the flaws in her game and have always been on the same page.
“I think the biggest thing I feel like they’ve done well is both of their messages have always been the same, so I know they probably talk a lot, not in front of me, before they come to me with a game plan or a new idea or something that I need to work on,” Gauff said from Beijing.
“I feel like the whole team is communicating well, and we’re all on the same page.
“Sometimes when you have two coaches, one as a coach, one as a consultant, sometimes things can be left and right or black and white. I think they’ve been working well to together to kind of meet in the middle and help me prepare best for my matches.”
Gauff says that her US Open win is something that has given her a real confidence boost.
“I do think I feel more confident,” Gauff said when quizzed about the impact of her Grand Slam breakthrough.
She added: “I think having that win makes you more confident in these moments. Especially the way the US Open went for me, a lot of three-set matches, a lot of tough moments.
“I think it’s way more pressure in the Grand Slam than a 1000, even though there’s still pressure, but it’s just less. I think I’m able to handle these emotions more because of that experience.
“Honestly, I do feel more confident stepping on court. Plus the way I kind of started on the scene, a lot of people wanted that for me and expected that from me. I feel like now it’s a little bit of a weight lifted and I’m able to play more freer, focus on the long-term and how to be able to set myself up to win even more.”
READ MORE: Why US Open champion Coco Gauff is so proud of her Beijing run
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