During the Stuttgart Open, Coco Gauff adeptly navigated a potentially tricky question during a press conference. When asked about her coach Brad Gilbert’s absence from the tournament, Gauff clarified that she had requested Gilbert to take a step back for this event. She explained that this decision allowed her newly rejoined coach, Jean-Christophe Faurel, to manage the tournament independently. Gauff emphasized that Gilbert’s absence was not due to any preference for attending the ‘Challengers’ premiere in Los Angeles, stating, “No, he did not choose Zendaya over me.”
Gauff’s reunion with Faurel marks a significant moment in her career. The two had previously worked together from November 2019 to December 2020, a partnership that ended due to Faurel’s visa issues. Gauff expressed her excitement about working with Faurel again, noting that their previous collaboration ended not by choice but due to circumstances beyond their control. She remarked, “It actually wasn’t either of our choices to stop working together. He was having visa issues and couldn’t get into the U.S. for, like, a long time, a couple years.”
On the court, Gauff demonstrated resilience in her second-round match against fellow American Sachia Vickery. Despite facing challenges, including 15 double faults and 19 break points against her, Gauff managed to secure a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory. She acknowledged the difficulties during the match, stating, “She gets a lot of balls back and I was just trying to be patient and also be aggressive. I think I got passive. She played well and I think I did a good job of staying in the match.”
Gauff’s performance in Stuttgart reflects her adaptability and strategic approach to both her game and coaching decisions. Her ability to handle press inquiries with poise and maintain focus on her objectives underscores her maturity as a professional athlete. As she continues in the tournament, Gauff’s decisions and on-court performances will be closely watched by fans and commentators alike.