EXCLUSIVE: Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci talks about possible partnership with Coco Gauff flagging a MAJOR issue in her game

Rick Macci talked about the possibility of him coaching 19-year-old Coco Gauff in an exclusive interview with FirstSportz.

EXCLUSIVE: Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci talks about possible partnership with Coco Gauff flagging a MAJOR issue in her game

Coco Gauff, Rick Macci (Images via Sportsunfold, YouTube)

Rick Macci, the seven-time USPTA National coach of the year, talked about the possibility of him coaching 19-year-old Coco Gauff in an exclusive interview with FirstSportz. Macci said that though it’s difficult for him to travel with Gauff as a coach due to his current business, he can offer her a helping hand if she needs any.

The renowned coach revealed that he had already talked with Gauff’s father, Corey Gauff, and that he can get involved with her team to help her. Gauff hired former Spanish player Pere Riba after parting ways with Diego Moyano recently.

YouTube video

Q- Will we see a partnership between Rick Macci and Coco Gauff? Are you willing to become Gauff’s coach?

FS Video

“I can’t travel because I run a business. I teach 50 hours a week. To be a quarterback and put my hands around this- I could definitely be involved and get on the team. I kind of told that to the father.

“At the end of the day, I could definitely help. But I wouldn’t travel with anybody simply because I have a business. I don’t need a job but if I want to help anybody, it would have to be under the right scenario,” said Macci, who has coached legendary players like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, and Jennifer Capriati.

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Rick Macci points out that Coco Gauff has to improve her forearm shots

EXCLUSIVE: Serena Williams' childhood coach Rick Macci talks about possible partnership with Coco Gauff and would love to offer help to the teenager
Coco Gauff (Image via Twitter)

Coco Gauff hogged the limelight when she reached the fourth round of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships at the age of just 15, making her a teen sensation. By qualifying for the main draws at the SW19, she became the youngest player ever to do so. She even defeated five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in her opening round.

However, though coach Rick Macci heaped praise on the teenager, he pointed out that she needs to improve her forehand game. And despite getting helps from several people, the forehand is still preventing her development. Macci said he will try to make a plan with Gauff and come up with a technique that can help the teenager execute the forehand shot much better than what it is now.

“She’s a great kid, she’s an American, they live 20 minutes away, but more importantly, a lot of people helped her with the forehand but here, you and I are talking about it. There still is a hole. Anybody can help, but is it backed up by science? Is it biomechanically right? And I think to this day, she hasn’t got it.

“So, who knows, at the end of the year, I’ll get together with Cori and we’ll come up with a plan. I’d love to help her, but if not, she’ll always be a great player but the forehand will be an issue because she deserves better- she checks so many other boxes as a great player,” the 68-year-old added.

Meanwhile, the World No.7 is currently participating at Eastbourne International and is all set to play her match against Bernarda Pera in the opening round on Tuesday (June 27). Before this tournament, she lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Berlin Open and to eventual champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals of the French Open.

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