By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Devotion to particulars distinguishes Grand Slam champions from contenders.
A ardour for observe is the important thing high quality that connects Coco Gauff and Rafael Nadal, says coach Brad Gilbert.
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The fixed quest for recreation enchancment and Gauff’s observe depth is paying homage to Rafa, says ESPN analyst Gilbert, who beforehand coached Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray.
“Each participant I’ve labored with has labored actually laborious,” Gilbert instructed ESPN’s Chris McKendry. “However Coco is unbelievably particular in her work ethic.
“She is slightly bit like a Rafa. For a match, she doesn’t have a light-weight shootaround. Her mild shootaround goes full at it. She actually needs to get higher and he or she places within the laborious yards.
“There’s not any stone she left unturned this offseason. She loves the work and he or she calls for loads from herself. She needs to get higher. She’s an excellent participant to work with, nice angle.”
In fact, that does not imply Gauff will go on to win 22 Grand Slam championships as Nadal has finished—although Gauff did share her long-term objective is to win double-digit majors throughout her pre-tournament presser—however her dedication to the trigger is obvious.
US Open champion Gauff and Gilbert hung out working with ace grasp Andy Roddick within the offseason in an effort to decrease her ball toss, streamline her serve a bit and use her explosiveness.
These efforts paid off as Gauff opened 2024 defeating Elina Svitolina to efficiently defend her Auckland title.
In a previous interview with Tennis Now, Toni Nadal, Rafa Nadal’s uncle and unique coach, cited the king of clay’s fixed dedication to enchancment and his die-hard observe depth as keys to his success.
“Whenever you lose, there’s just one method to go and that’s practice tougher,” Toni Nadal instructed Tennis Now. “I used to be fortunate sufficient to coach a man who was excited each single day for observe as he was earlier than a remaining.”
Gilbert’s ESPN and training colleague, Darren Cahill, who’s co-coach of Jannik Sinner alongside Simone Vagnozzi, additionally utilized Nadal’s disciplined observe classes as instructing instruments.
When Cahill coached Simona Halep to the world No. 1 rating they’d typically go watch Nadal’s observe classes collectively drawing inspiration from his devotion.
Successful Ugly creator Gilbert has additionally inspired Gauff to downsize her workload. Gilbert nixed Grand Slam blended doubles for Gauff, although hopefully we’ll see her play all three disciplines on the Paris Olympics this summer season, and suggests her doubles days at majors could come to an finish quickly.
“I put the kibosh on blended. No extra blended,” Gilbert mentioned on ESPN. “Hopefully there might be some Slams the place it’s solely singles not even doubles.
“I do know that’s to the chagrin of some individuals, however typically you’ve acquired to be egocentric and give attention to what’s most essential. In Coco’s case, proper now, it is profitable majors in singles.”
