![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/72\/590x\/secondary\/4947167.jpg?r=1694039408717\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Coco Gauff has been enjoying the best summer of her career, winning two titles and reaching the semi-final of the US Open, where she is still in contention for the trophy. The 19-year-old hired new coach Brad Gilbert after Wimbledon and has so far lost just one match since they linked up. The 62-year-old has now opened up on the changes he made to Gauff\u2019s game to bring success. And he revealed that the world No 6 thought he was an \u201cold dude\u201d.<\/p>\n
The North American hard-court swing has largely been dominated by one player – Coco Gauff. Before August, she had three career titles all at WTA 250 level. But she won the 500-point event in Washington and her first Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, with her only defeat coming to Jessica Pegula in Canada.<\/p>\n
She is now through to her first semi-final at the US Open where she takes on Karolina Muchova, and the timing of her recent uptick has coincided with the addition of Gilbert in her corner. A tennis analyst for ESPN, Gilbert has now explained the secret weapons he added to Gauff\u2019s game since joining her coaching team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll tell you Coco\u2019s two best qualities, she\u2019s incredibly humble and hard-working. She wants to get better,\u201d the American told Sky Sports. \u201cI think I\u2019ve helped her a lot with simple strategy and in-match, understanding her opponents\u2019 strengths and weaknesses. And when you start with somebody on the fly, that\u2019s what you can do most.\u201d<\/p>\n
Click here to join our WhatsApp community to be the first to receive breaking and exclusive tennis news<\/strong><\/p>\n Just in <\/strong> Daniil Medvedev ‘couldn’t see the ball’ in brutal US Open conditions[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n Gauff\u2019s forehand had often been a talking point as her weak side but Gilbert wasn\u2019t interested in changing it up at this stage in their partnership. He continued: \u201cIt\u2019s not about if you\u2019re trying to change somebody\u2019s forehand or backhand. And you cannot believe how many texts I got saying \u2018fix this forehand\u2019. Like, really? Last I checked, she does a lot of things really well. So you work with the things you have and you just try to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n As well as giving new insight into Gauff\u2019s strategies against each opponent, Gilbert also made some technical adjustments. \u201cFirst of all, [I was impressed by] her movement on court. And I felt like she played a little too aggressively and points were a little too short,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I felt like her best asset is being able to use more of the court, extending the points longer. And I maybe moved her back six, eight, nine feet on the return. Because so many girls are up close so I\u2019m just giving her more opportunity to use the things she does well.\u201d<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> But Gilbert refused to take the credit for Gauff\u2019s success, adding: \u201cAnd then you know what? Ultimately, she\u2019s the one that executes the game plan and wins and loses the matches.\u201d Another reason for the instant results in their partnership is the bond the pair have already formed off the court.<\/p>\n The world No 6 has been sharing her \u201cfavourite Brad stories\u201d – including his love for Jolly Ranchers and odd numbers. And Gilbert also opened up on their relationship, admitting that the 19-year-old thought he was old. \u201cWell, she doesn\u2019t listen to the things I send her,\u201d he said, referencing his music taste.<\/p>\n \u201cI send her a little bit of Petty, I send her the Eagles. She\u2019s never heard of Grateful Dead. She\u2019s never heard of Springsteen. Metallica, I went to the show in Montreal, I sent her pictures of it. But I keep sending it. I\u2019m trying to get her.\u201d<\/p>\n But the coach and commentator already had experience with his own daughters which was helping him with Gauff. \u201cShe thinks I\u2019m an old dude which is fine,\u201d he laughed. \u201cI\u2019ve got two girls, they were 19 once before, they\u2019re a little older. Girls are tougher. Trying to outsmart my two young daughters, it\u2019s difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think literally, they prepared me for this one. My youngest is here with me, she gives me a little bit of sage advice about some of the things that Coco says. They say I\u2019m a little blase with Twitter and I don\u2019t do TikTok, that I need to improve my game.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/72\/590x\/secondary\/4947169.jpg?r=1694039408757\")
<\/p>\n
Daniil Medvedev worries ‘one player is going to die’ at US Open[RECAP] <\/strong>
US Open outfit change causes fury as angry opponent vents at umpire[REACTION] <\/strong>
Alcaraz explains reasons he skipped US Open practice after raising injury fears[EXPLAINER] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/72\/590x\/secondary\/4947172.jpg?r=1694039408825\")
<\/p>\n