As Coco Gauff heads towards her next coaching change, Maria Sharapova doesn't see it as a massive issue to keep changing coaches at what is an early juncture of her career.
Gauff of course is a Grand Slam champion but she has struggled in recent times with form and was unable to defend her title recently at Flushing Meadows. After crashing out to Emma Navarro in New York and for a second consecutive major, she decided to dispense with Brad Gilbert.
Gilbert being a renowned coach for his time with Andre Agassi delivered her greatest success. But at times it went stale which prompted a change. While it is unsure which route she will next take, Sharapova speaks from experience and says that it is all part of a process.
She said that she had a good relationship with each coach that was part of her development and that what you need at one point is not what you then need down the line which perhaps chimes with Gauff. As well as that it takes time to really build trust and a team to base foundations around which is what Gauff will hope to do with her next change.
“I think Coco has an amazing head on her shoulders and knows that there will be changes in her team throughout the years," said Sharapova to US Weekly.
“What you need at a certain point in your career is not what you need later in your career,” the retired tennis player continued. “I was very fortunate with the teams that I had. I still remain very close to all of my coaches. They’re such big team members and they carry so much weight. A team is really important.”
“It takes time to build trust and learn from [your team] and accept their advice. But it’s a fun journey.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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