“Gauff has an amazing head on her shoulders and knows that there will be changes in her team throughout the years” – Sharapova

The Russian reflects on her own journey with different coaches throughout her professional career

Coco Gauff, US Open 2024

September 23, 2024

Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has weighed in on the recent coaching situation of American tennis star Coco Gauff.

Gauff recently announced that she and Brad Gilbert were parting ways after 14 months together, during which she won her first Grand Slam at the US Open last year.

A replacement for Gilbert has yet to be announced but Sharapova is not worried about the potential impact on Gauff in the long-term.

“I think Coco (Gauff) has an amazing head on her shoulders and knows that there will be changes in her team throughout the years,” Sharapova said in an interview to Us Weekly.

I just wanted to fly on my own. I wanted to figure things out.
Maria Sharapova on asking her father to step back from coaching duties

Maria Sharapova at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz WTA International tennis tournament in 2019 Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic

“What you need at a certain point in your career is not what you need later in your career. I was very fortunate with the teams that I had. I still remain very close to all of my coaches. They’re such big team members and they carry so much weight. A team is really important. It takes time to build trust and learn from (your team) and accept their advice. But it’s a fun journey.”

In the interview, the Russian, who is on the Hall of Fame ballot this year, recalled her own journey with coaches, including asking her father to step back as her coach in 2008.

“At that point, I had just won my third Grand Slam. Perhaps in a different situation or a different player, that wouldn’t be a time to stop with your coach or your father, but I just wanted to fly on my own. I wanted to figure things out. I was in my early 20s and I just felt ready, even though he still remained a big part of my career.”