© Getty Images Sport – Sarah Stier
Spanish coach Pere Riba listed personal reasons as the reason for a split with Coco Gauff and also tipped the 19-year-old American to reach the world No 1 spot next year. Riba, who started working with Gauff during the grass season, was with the American when she became a Grand Slam champion at this year’s US Open and also lifted her first WTA 1000 title in Cincinnati.
After Gauff started her WTA Finals campaign with a win over Ons Jabeur, she announced that she and Riba were no longer working together. In her message, Gauff said that it “was not my decision.” Spanish newspaper MARCA reached out to Riba, who indicated that he wasn’t able to travel as much.
“For family issues of a personal nature. I am very happy with the work we have done together, because all the objectives were met, and I am convinced that next year Gauff will be No 1,” Riba told MARCA.
Gauff announced a split with coach Riba in Cancun
When announcing a split with Riba, Gauff spoke extremely highly of her now-former coach.
“Unfortunately, it wasn’t my decision. But we had to end the partnership. If it was up to me, I would have loved to have him here. But you know, things happen. Life happens. So no bad terms on our end. Sometimes people think it’s bigger than what it is.
But some things just didn’t work out and that’s all. I still think that he was a great guy. And obviously, he did amazing things for me personally and also for my game. So I’m sure he’s going to be successful in his next step,” Gauff said in Cancun.
Although Gauff and Riba’s partnership was a short one, it was also undoubtedly a very successful one. Meanwhile, Gauff is in Cancun with Brad Gilbert, who started working with her during the North American hard court swing.
