Renae Stubbs didn't mince words about Coco Gauff's fourth-round exit from the U.S. Open on Sunday, airing her frustration with the American phenom's coach, who was sitting on the same panel.
While analyzing Gauff's three-set loss to Emma Navarro on an ESPN panel, Stubbs, the former world doubles No. 1 who coached Serena Williams to the 2022 U.S. Open, called for attention to the 20-year-old's confidence and technique but acknowledged the awkwardness of doing so while on the panel with Gauff's coach, Brad Gilbert.
“Where's your confidence, Coco?” said Stubbs. According to the Daily Mail“There's no second serve, that's the sign. That's the problem.”
“So when the pressure is on, bad technique falls apart. Her technique — it's hard for me to say because Brad is sitting here — but her technique, her elbows are too low, her grip is a little bit weird.”
Gilbert, a former professional tennis coach who has coached the likes of Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi, has come under intense criticism after Gauff lost 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to compatriot Navarro.
“It was honestly pretty embarrassing to watch Brad Gilbert talk about Gauff's loss on TV while Gauff was in the press room.” Written by X user Stephanie Myles.
That's a stark difference from a year ago, when Gilbert joined Gauff's team and enjoyed a stellar summer that led to a U.S. Open victory.
Gauff, who made 60 unforced errors Sunday, looked at her box in Flushing and said, “Tell me something!”
It was a similar situation to what happened at Wimbledon earlier this summer, when Gauff lost 6-4, 6-3 to Navarro in the round of 16.
Gauff turned to her coaches for advice during the match.
“I don't think we were all on the same page,” Gauff said after her Wimbledon loss. According to SI.com. “It's nobody's fault but myself. I mean, I'm the player on the court. I have to make my own decisions on the court.”
The Florida native spoke about mechanics after Monday's loss ended her title defense.
“I tend to fall to my left when I serve, and I know that, but I find it hard not to do that in the moment,” she said. According to the Associated Press.
The 23-year-old Navarro will face Spain's Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
