By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Sunday, January 14, 2024
For these questioning who impressed US Open champion Coco Gauff and her new service movement, look no additional than a former US Open winner.
The reply—former No. 1 and Corridor of Famer Andy Roddick.
Gauff’s coach, Brad Gilbert, revealed all in the course of the first day of ESPN’s Australian Open protection from down below. Throughout a phase, ESPN’s Chris McKendry requested Gilbert about who was behind Gauff’s latest serving change. Gilbert revealed that Roddick stepped in in the course of the low season to supply a number of solutions.
That makes complete sense given Gilbert coached Roddick in the course of the early a part of his profession and continues to be in contact with the all-time nice.
“I coached Andy at a younger age. He’s received an incredible serve. And I used to be considering, “What an excellent individual to check out Coco’s serve,” Gilbert mentioned. “It’s sort of full circle. Once I coached Andy, I used to be his age now. Andy was like Coco’s age. It was an excellent two days. Actually helped issues out (and) simplified Coco’s movement (and) abbreviated slightly bit.”
Gauff’s new service movement was on full show on the latest Auckland, New Zealand ASB Traditional occasion the place Gauff repeated as champion.
One other day, one other W ☝️#ASBClassic | @CocoGauff pic.twitter.com/Ry01arc5B7
— ASB Traditional (@ASB_Classic) January 4, 2024
In her Melbourne pre-event press convention, Gauff talked concerning the serve changes, although she didn’t point out Roddick’s title.
“It solely took me like two days, possibly three, to get actually comfy with it,” Gauff mentioned. She added, “It was simply to make the toss extra constant. As an alternative of throwing from so low to begin up larger to make the toss extra constant.”
Gauff, the No. 4 seed in Melbourne, will face Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
in her opening spherical.