Coco Gauff's Wimbledon Meltdown Could Lead To New Coach

Coco Gauff could not get on the same page as her coach at Wimbledon.

Coco Gauff and her coach were out of sync at Wimbledon. / Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

On Sunday afternoon, Coco Gauff suffered another setback. The World No. 2 was upset by Emma Navarro in straight sets. Once again, Gauff could not advance past the fourth round at Wimbledon.

The downside of winning a Grand Slam as a teenager is the high pressure that follows. During her match against Navarro, Gauff became visibly frustrated. The 20-year-old shouted to her coach for instructions, which led to viral videos on social media.

Gauff shouted, "Tell me something. You guys aren't saying anything." Her coach, Brad Gilbert, tried to give Gauff advice from the box and gestured a new series of tactics, but it could not disrupt Navarro's momentum.

"We had a game plan going in. I felt that it wasn't working," said Gauff after the match.

Coco Gauff's coach Brad Gilbert. / Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

Gauff explained, "I don't always ask for advice from my the box. Today was one of those rare moments where I felt I didn't have solutions. I don't want to say I didn't have any because I think I'm a capable player of coming up with some. I think today, mentally, there was a lot going on. I felt like I wanted more direction from the box."

In a moment of candor, Gauff said, "Today, I don't think we were all in sync. It's no one's blame except myself. I mean, I'm the player out there. I have to make decisions for myself on the court."

Fans have long called for changes to Gauff's forehand and other modifications to her game. After yesterday's upset at the All England Club, this could be what is needed for a change in the superstar's approach.

However, a change would not be immediate as Gauff will soon play at the Summer Olympics in Paris. Quickly after, she will look to defend her title at the US Open. Tennis fans can follow Sports Illustrated's Serve on SI for all the most important news from the sport.

Further Reading: Coco Gauff says she was in a dark place in 2023.