Nick Kyrgios wants back into the game, but in a different way than one might think.
The former 2022 Wimbledon finalist turned tennis broadcaster may be in pursuit of a new gig as Coco Gauff’s coach.
Kyrgios offered his services to the 2023 U.S. Open champion after she lost in the fourth round to fellow American Emma Navarro 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, missing the quarterfinals again at Navarro’s hands as she did at Wimbledon.
Kyrgios became known for his bad boy antics while on the court, including swearing at officials, spitting at fans and making obscene gestures at times. But he did get as high as No. 11 in the world as recently as 2022.
Kyrgios’ offer also comes at a time when Gauff’s current coach, Brad Gilbert, is taking intense criticism for their continued partnership after another early Grand Slam exit.
Although Gilbert has taught Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi in the past, fans have urged the young American to break it off with her coach.
“My honest advice to @CocoGauff is to sack @bgtennisnation He became Gauff head coach in November 2023 and her game has regressed since then. Brad loves himself more than anyone else and that doesn’t work if you are a Head Coach,” a tennis blogger posted to X.
To the same post, a fan commented Kyrgios should partner up with her, to which he replied, “I’d coach her.”
Even the former coach of 23-time grand slam winner Serena Williams, Rennae Stubbs, chimed in on Gauff’s “bad” technique in front of Gilbert in an ESPN conversation.
“Where is Coco’s confidence?” Stubbs questioned, per Sportskeeda. “There’s no second serve, that’s the sign. And that’s a problem.”
“So under pressure, bad technique breaks down and her technique is…hard for me to say because Brad [Gilbert] is sitting here…but her technique, the elbow, is too low, the grip is a little weird as well,” she continued. “So it’s hard for her to get that nice first serve and then the same or similar second serve.”
Gauff, 20, didn’t play well in the hard court tournaments leading up to the Open nor was there much improvement in Flushing, as she continuously struggled with her service game.
During the fourth round match, Gauff’s frustration showed and she continuously looked up at her box, saying “Tell me something!”
Against Navarro, she committed 60 unforced errors and had 19 double faults.
