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**jimlosaltos** · 06-30-2023, 10:36 AM

Serendipitously, the two players John compared -- Madison Keys and Coco Gauff -- just met in Eastbourne, a grass tune up.

Keys, now down to 25, won in straight sets 3,2.

"Keys’s upset of Gauff is her first grass-court win over a Top 10 player since she beat Angelique Kerber to win the 2014 Rothesay International final."

**jimlosaltos** · 07-04-2023, 09:30 AM

Coco out in the first round to tiny Sofia Kenin, having a resurgence. Big disappointment for Coco.
6-4, 4-6, 6-2

Coco with 12 aces to 1 and 33 winners, and earned 10 BPs vs 6 -- yet lost.

Sofia is still only 24 yo (I had to double check that), recently connected with veteran Sharapova coach Michael Joyce, who may be contributing to a resurgence.

**jimlosaltos** · 07-19-2023, 10:42 AM

Latest critique, just for your collective interest -- Sports Illustrated, I believe it was Jon Wertheim, but not sure blamed Coco's grip for her forehand issues.

Said it Coco has such extreme Western grip she can use the same grip on her back hand.

As many of us here will recall, a very good player named Philipp Kohlschreiber did just that for years. Got to 16 on ATP.

Not sure her foot work and her off arm flying all over can be blamed on her grip, but what do I know?

**stotty** · 07-19-2023, 02:06 PM

Extreme western grips are rarely a good idea. Some players get away with an extreme western grips, but not many. The difficult thing for coaches is there will always be the odd world-class player out there that has an extreme grip or unusual technique, and developing players, even coaches, will site such examples to justify their own extreme technique. Very important coaches have good answers for students trying to justify extreme grips.

As I said somewhere else, maybe on this thread, making a poor forehand once it's established into a good forehand is nigh on impossible and I am sceptical any coach is going to be able to do it.

**don_budge** · 07-19-2023, 11:08 PM

Obviously of no interest to anyone currently on the forum...but we once upon a time had an interesting discussion about grips. Grips matter...trust me.

Jack Kramer explains various Grips... - TennisPlayer.net Forums

https://www.tennisplayer.net/bulletin/forum/tennisplayer/2683-jack-kramer-explains-various-grips

Click here to enter the forums!

Originally posted by klacr View Post

Grips Matter. But you don't have to take my word for it...

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

**doctorhl** · 07-21-2023, 04:44 AM

The best shot artists( like Fed), know the strength and weaknesses of each grip, which situations to use them, and can change them with one hand when needed. There is a great risk in artistry if used inappropriately and the pressure of today's game does not allow much room for developing player exploration, grips included. Nastase and Kyrios are pointed out as negative examples of artistry unharnessed. Without them, however, we would never have witnessed a McEnroe or Federer.

**jimlosaltos** · 07-21-2023, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by stotty View Post

Extreme western grips are rarely a good idea. Some players get away with an extreme western grips, but not many. The difficult thing for coaches is there will always be the odd world-class player out there that has an extreme grip or unusual technique, and developing players, even coaches, will site such examples to justify their own extreme technique. Very important coaches have good answers for students trying to justify extreme grips.

As I said somewhere else, maybe on this thread, making a poor forehand once it's established into a good forehand is nigh on impossible and I am sceptical any coach is going to be able to do it.

That's discouraging to hear. Coco is such a great athlete and an endearing personality.

Seems to have made progress on her serve while regressing on her groundstrokes. Hope she can turn it around.

Still only 19 yo and number 8 in the world!

**stotty** · 07-21-2023, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by jimlosaltos View Post

That's discouraging to hear. Coco is such a great athlete and an endearing personality.

Seems to have made progress on her serve while regressing on her groundstrokes. Hope she can turn it around.

Still only 19 yo and number 8 in the world!

I get that. And number 8 in the world is great....I get that too. Unfortunately there have been many precocious talents who have ultimately been let down by flaws which are fundamental. Tennis starts with the grip after all. I guess the women's game is less dependent on the forehand being excellent than the men's game, which might help her cause. In the men's game you'd have a slam-less career with a poor forehand.

Be interesting to see if some coach can do something about her forehand.

Tony Bennett past away today. What a singer and an amazing man.

**jimlosaltos** · 07-22-2023, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by stotty View Post

Tony Bennett past away today. What a singer and an amazing man.

R.I.P. Long life. Performed to the end.

I saw him live once. My old company bought a table at a Silicon Valley Charity Ball where he performed. We were well behind the large contingents from Intel, AMD and Sun. Memorable.

Not long afterwards, I looked over my shoulder from a restaurant table in NYC and saw Tony at the table behind us. I wanted to say hello, but he was so engrossed in talk with his dinner companion I couldn't bring myself to interrupt them. Opportunity passed.

**jimlosaltos** · 08-09-2023, 10:47 AM

Clue number 999 in the mystery of "What impact does a coach have on a pro player & what do they do?"

Brad Gilbert joins Coco Gauff as uber coach along with Pere Reba. She instantly wins a title and beats top ranked player.

What did they work on? Her forehand? Nah.

“Everybody is trying to play the forehand -- I’m not going to sit here and act like it’s some secret,” Gauff said in Washington.

Enter Gilbert, who is making a number of adjustments to her game -- none of them involving the forehand.

“We haven’t changed anything with the forehand,” he said, laughing. “I never even say that word.

Revamping a star: How Brad Gilbert is aiming to shape Gauff's game

https://www.wtatennis.com/news/3623241/revamping-a-star-how-brad-gilbert-is-aiming-to-shape-gauff-s-game

On the surface, the Brad Gilbert-Coco Gauff pairing is a perfect matchup. Here's insight into what their plans are for the next few weeks.

**jimlosaltos** · 08-22-2023, 09:58 AM

Coco beats Iga for first time then ascending Muchova for her first M1k level title.

Coco said about Iga win, "I didn't want to be like Monfils". Ouch !

Again, Coco looked stagnant. Career plateaued. Every opponent is targeting her forehand and everyone analyst is ridiculing it.

BG and Reba come on board and BANG -- instant winner. Without touching her forehand.

Somebody, please, please tell me what magic elixir BG/ Reba are using with Coco ! ! !

**johnyandell** · 08-22-2023, 02:05 PM

I've been texting with Brad. They have done nothing technical. It's confidence building and tactics. Brad wanted more air and shape on the groundstrokes and that seems to have magically eliminated the technical problems on her forehand.

**jimlosaltos** · 08-22-2023, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by johnyandell View Post

I've been texting with Brad. They have done nothing technical. It's confidence building and tactics. Brad wanted more air and shape on the groundstrokes and that seems to have magically eliminated the technical problems on her forehand.

Awesome
Thanks for digging that out & sharing, John

P.S. If only fixing my game was so easy