Brad Gilbert's voice is a constant in Coco Gauff's ears each time she takes the court. It was no different in the American's fourth-round match against former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.
From 'your time to make it physical now' to 'Let's not try to go through her', the instructions coming at the 19-year-old Gauff doesn't cease. Gauff, who signed on former ATP pro Pere Riba as coach earlier this summer, and subsequently added Gilbert as consultant, has enjoyed a breakthrough summer with two of her biggest tournament successes coming in Washington and Cincinnati. Things came to a boil on court in the fourth round. "Please just stop," Gauff directed at her box when the 61-year-old Gilbert offered more advice.
Later the American ace was asked about the dynamics in her box. "Sometimes when I go to my towel, it's a reset moment. I don't need to hear anything. I just need to reset and think about me," she said. "I think today I did say, stop talking, at one point because I was getting frustrated. It wasn't really directed at him. I think at that moment, I just didn't want to hear anything. I just wanted to think about what I was doing." Gauff added, "off the court he does talk, but I like it. I think any time I can get advice, it's great."
SHELTON LETTING IT RIP
Ben Shelton upped the pace on his hitman serves in the fourth round against American Tommy Paul. Shelton, 6 ft 4', who thundered down a 147-mph ace in his previous win over Aslan Karatsev smashed two 149 mph serves at 3-1 in the third set on Arthur Ashe to register a new fastest serve in this edition of the tournament.
Andy Roddick's 152 mph serve in 2004 is the all-time US Open record. "I think straight adrenaline," the 20-yearold said of his two 149 mph serves. "I think in any other atmosphere I wouldn't be able to get it down and I think my arm might have come off. But it is feeling pretty good right now."
