Ancestral Cure? Hall of Famers on how Gauff can step up in US Open Defense

Written by Richard Pagliaro | @Itenisi_Manje | Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Photo credit: Garrett Ellwood/USTA/US Open

Coco Gauff he usually wears headphones when he goes to court.

When the 20-year-old Gauff launches his US Open title defense next week, he should listen to a gut feeling to return to New York, the Hall of Famer. Chrissie Evert said today.

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Citing Gauff's consultation no coaches Jean Christophe Faurel and Brad Gilbert in recent games, Evert said it's time for the Delray Beach native to step up and call his own shots. Evert's comments came during a Zoom call today with his former No. 1 teammate John McEnroe press conference to promote ESPN's first-to-last coverage of the US Open beginning Monday, August 26 at noon on ESPN.

“I think he has to trust his instincts when he plays the game,” Evert said of Gauff. “And don't always rely on patterns and coaches and people telling him what to do.

“I just think he's at an age now where he has to play with more feel, more instinct and more belief in himself. And get away from patterns. He was frustrated with them [her coaching box]. As he suspected them, but really tennis is inside you.

“John [McEnroe] and I didn't have the training that they have now and I think we saw it for ourselves. We played natural tennis and I think Coco should do more than that.”

Last September, Gauff passed away Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to capture his maiden major in front of a packed crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It was Gauff's 12th straight win and came after becoming the youngest woman to win the Cincinnati Open.

At age 19, Gauff became the youngest American to win the US Open since her tennis hero, 17-year-old Serena Williams, defeated No. 1 Martina Hingis in the 1999 final. She also joined Serena Williams and Tracy Austin as the third young American woman to win the US Open in the Open Era.

Although Gauff opened the season successfully defending his seventh title in Auckland before making semi-finals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, he has struggled in recent weeks. Evert expects Gauff to see a steady dose of “prediction, advance, prediction” at next week's US Open.

America's flag bearer with him at the Paris Olympics LeBron James, Gauff fell to Emma Navarro in a tearful Wimbledon loss, went down to Wimbledon semifinalist Donna Vekic in the Olympics, lost to Diana Shnaider in Toronto and was eliminated in Cincinnati by Yulia Putintseva last week.

Gauff's catching front in the west has been against opponents, who have hit that wing like a pinata, his second game has let him down at times and grown in the air in other games.

Evert says seeing Gauff teary-eyed on the court and sometimes barking in his box this summer is a sign of those high expectations and the emotional frustrations that come with it.

“The thing about tears: you just never know what's going to go into your cells in your body,” Evert said of Gauff. “But everyone from day one thought about Coco Gauff: She is the next Serena Williams. He will be the next to rule.

“That stays with you for a long time. I also think when he's upset and upset during Wimbledon, I think he should start finding his own game plan.”

How will Gauff handle the burden of wearing the bulls-eye on his back as the reigning US Open champion in New York City this month? Can he solve the problems that have plagued him this summer?

Coaches Brad Gilbert and Pere Riba helped Gauff complete his quest to win the US Open last year by simplifying his approach, emphasizing his forehand ability, pressing defense and his shaky two-handed backhand.

While others say Gauff should work with a stroke specialist to shorten his front swing and try to change his grip to a more western one later, McEnroe says Gauff has the game and mindset to change things.

“Coco is a great player who can see it – you know just pay attention,” McEnroe said.

Former No. 1 McEnroe said it's “hard to say what will happen” with the Gauff-Gilbert partnership, but insists that when it comes to regaining form, time is on Gauff's side.

“As far as Brad is concerned, it's hard to say what will happen. But Brad is one of the best coaches ever,” McEnroe said of his ESPN partner and one-time teammate Gilbert. “He has had great players. Maybe Brad is an acquired taste to some extent, but he knows that people who have acquired his taste, have done very well.

“I think he should be in the Hall of Fame for his coaching. So I don't think so [coaching] problem. I think if he decides this year he wants to try someone else, he knows that's his right, he's the player.

“But last year when he joined Coco there was a big run. He won the Open. I think he did a great job. He's young. We'll see what happens. He has a lot of time to figure this out.”