Coco Gauff re-hires former pivotal member of her coaching staff alongside Brad Gilbert

2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff brought back a crucial member of her team led by Brad Gilbert. Veteran coach Jean-Christophe Faurel rejoined the team of the world No. 3 after three years.

Faurel worked as a member of the elite tennis center of Jean-René Lisnard for Alexander Muller, but now accepted Gauff's request to join her team. The American was previously with the Frenchman between March 2019 and December 2020, when Gauff was making her early steps on the WTA Tour at 15 years old.

The coach was with Gauff when she experienced mental health issues in 2020 and was helpful in supporting her in her daily fitness and tennis practices. Now, almost 4 years later, Gauff decided to bring Lisnard back to take her ambitions to the next level.

Faurel was previously criticized due to Gauff's particular forehand, which was unconventional on the Tour due to its grip and strength, and for several years was one of Gauff's weak points. With Brad Gilbert in 2023, the American showed evident improvements in her forehand, and by partnering with the American coach, she had a golden few months, winning her first WTA 500 title at the Washington Open, then the first WTA 1000 at the Cincinnati Open, and finally her first Grand Slam title at the US Open within less than two months.

Previously, Jean-Christophe Faurel commented that Coco Gauff's father supported him when the forehand of the world No. 3 was criticized: “We all know that Coco’s forehand grip is very controversial, He received me and listened to me. At the end, he said, ‘The next one who bothers you with this, you send it to me.’ There were no more problems afterward with this famous forehand shot. I was then able to work on what I deemed good for her.”