Brad Gilbert spent one hugely successful year alongside Coco Gauff, helping guide her to a maiden Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open.
However, just a year later, their partnership was over after an unsuccessful title defence in New York.
Although they only enjoyed a short-lived professional relationship, the 64-year-old remains ever-present within the tennis community as a pundit for Tennis Channel.
As such, he is often enlisted to offer a greater insight into Coco Gauff’s processes, as she continues to navigate the struggles of being a top player on the WTA Tour.
Speaking after the American had just lost in the Italian Open final on the Big T Podcast, Gilbert had one crucial piece of advice for Gauff as she seeks to successfully defend her Roland Garros title in the coming weeks.
Brad Gilbert discusses Coco Gauff’s serve after the Italian Open
He first focused on the serve, stating: “I feel like the one stat that you look at, and Coco has a big serve, and they’re using her first serve now almost a lot of times to start the point. So we don’t have to hit second serves.
“But a number that you look at for Coco and you kind of scratch your head and go, ‘This number’s gotta get better’. And it’s amazing that she’s winning despite it. She’s winning less than 40% of her second serve points on the year, and won less than that in this final. And one ace.
Is Coco Gauff playing well enough to win Rome and Roland Garros?
She's into the Italian Open final!
“I feel like I would like to see her be a little more aggressive on her first serve, especially when she has leads, because she can hit her serve 125, and I think it always ups your, you know, kind of mojo when you can drop a few aces or a serve plus one.”
He finished by insisting that free points would hugely benefit a player with such incredible resilience, before then outlining what his plan for Gauff would now be heading into Roland Garros.
Gilbert added: “Well, you probably, first and foremost, after this tournament, you take a few days off. Probably work on your cardio.
“The training in between the week off, for the women opposed to the men, it’s still best of three sets. And actually, you know, for the men, obviously, best of five, there can be some different variables.
“But I think more than anything, you probably continue on working, and that’s what, you know, Coco knows and loves to do. Maybe work on a few specific things, you know, whether or not it’s the serve, it’s the return plus one.
“But I do think in the women’s game, the return plus one and the serve plus one, and I’d like to see her continue to use the forehand shape, because I think when she gets the forehand up, and so many women want to play her forehand to forehand, if that’s a pattern that she can hang in, when you know it’s coming, it’s such an advantage.”
Tracy Austin also said what she hopes Gauff can change in her game before the French Open as well, with clearly plenty for the youngster to tackle in the coming weeks and months.
Coco Gauff reveals her mindset heading into Roland Garros
Whilst Austin and Gilbert have both offered advice for Gauff heading into Roland Garros, the two-time major champion has already outlined what her mindset will be upon returning to Paris.
She spoke in her post-match press conference after the Italian Open final, admitting: “Yeah, there’s a lot of positives I can take from this tournament and a lot I can learn from. I’m sure the pressure will be there.
How long will it take for Coco Gauff to complete the career Grand Slam?
“I don’t know. I think this week I experienced all the ups and downs of a tournament that can bring you before a Grand Slam of I’ve been down, had the lead, lost the lead, I’ve been in the final, been down match point. I think I’ve experienced every scenario that can prepare me for Roland Garros.
“Hopefully I can actually learn from each scenario and do better.”
Gauff also outlined what she personally wants to improve before Roland Garros, showcasing how she is well aware that changes must be made despite a successful two weeks in Rome.
