"Naomi Osaka should have waited" - Coco Gauff's split with Brad Gilbert draws interesting reaction from journalist

Coco Gauff (L), Naomi Osaka (C) & Brad Gilbert (R) (Image source: GETTY)
Coco Gauff (L), Naomi Osaka (C) & Brad Gilbert (R) (Image source: GETTY)

Tennis journalist Jon Wertheim had an interesting reaction to Coco Gauff and her coach Brad Gilbert announcing their split. He made a reference to Naomi Osaka, who is reported to have joined hands with Patrick Mouratoglou. The Japanese recently announced that she had ended her partnership with Wim Fissette.

Osaka worked with Fissette from 2019-2022, but during her maternity leave, the Belgian decided to coach Zheng Qinwen. Once the four-time Grand Slam champion returned to tour, Fissette controversially ended his partnership with the Chinese to become Osaka's coach again.

Though she has had some positives since her return, things haven't gone to plan for Osaka, and she has now split up with Fissette. The Japanese announced the news via an Instagram story post.

"Four years, two slams and a whole lot of memories. Thanks Wim for being a great coach and an even greater person. Wishing you all the best," Osaka wrote on her Instagram story.

Not long after, it was reported that Osaka would be joining hands with Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who recently parted ways with Holger Rune.

Now, Brad Gilbert has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that his partnership with Coco Gauff has also come to an end.

"Thanks 🙏 to @CocoGauff and the entire team for an absolutely amazing summer run in 2023 and for 14 months of incredible team effort. Coco, at just 20 years young, your future is incredibly bright, and I wish you nothing but continued success ahead. I’m excited for the next chapter in my coaching career," Gilbert tweeted.

Tennis journalist Jon Wertheim wrote on X how Naomi Osaka may have made a hasty decision to hire Patrick Mouratoglou, implying that Gilbert would have been a better fit for the Japanese.

"Naomi Osaka should have waited a week….," Wertheim tweeted.

Interestingly, Gauff has worked with Mouratoglou in the past. However, it was under Gilbert's tutelage that the American clinched the US Open in 2023 and reached a career-high World No. 2 in the rankings.


"Before Serena and after Serena, what are the great accomplishments?" - Rennae Stubbs questions Patrick Mouratoglou's coaching credentials amid rumored partnership with Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka (Source: Getty)
Naomi Osaka (Source: Getty)

On the latest episode of the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Rennae Stubbs gave her take on Naomi Osaka's coaching change. She said that Osaka, who considers Serena Williams an idol, could be hiring Patrick Mouratoglou since the French coach had a highly successful partnership with the American legend.

"Well, she’s always looked up to Serena so maybe she’s thinking that this is going to be her moment where she can pick up someone who has moulded the Serena Williams person," Stubbs said.

However, she then questioned the coaching credentials of Mouratoglou and said he hasn't had a successful partnership with a player aside from Serena Williams.

"Since then, before Serena and after Serena, what are the great accomplishments? These players just bow down and think he’s going to be the difference maker in my life," she said.

Stubbs also claimed Mouratoglou sent Simona Halep's career downhill, alluding to the her doping controversy.

Roxadustat, a banned substance that was found in the Romanian's system, came from a supplement that was advised by him. Stubbs said that she would be wary of having people involved in controversies such as Mouratoglou around.

"I mean, he arguably has f****d up Simona Halep’s life with these allegations of who is the one who brought these people in and put the stuff in her drinks or whatever the hell and she’s now had a two-year suspension. I don’t know, I’d be a little wary of having people around me that had those credentials."

Naomi Osaka is slated to play at the China Open next, where she may be coached for Patrick Mouratoglou. She won the tournament in 2019.

The Japanese will be joined by Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and others.