When Coco Gauff joined forces with Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert earlier this year, she was on her way to great success. However, their partnership came to an unexpected end when Riba cited personal issues and parted ways with Gauff. Riba then decided to rejoin a young Chinese WTA star, sparking backlash from fans.
Before coaching Gauff, Riba had been a mentor to 21-year-old Qinwen Zheng. The two had been working together since 2021 and initially split after the French Open. Riba then helped Gauff achieve her first WTA 500, Masters, and Grand Slam titles. The surprising news of their split was announced in October.
Riba disclosed that personal and family issues had led to his decision to take a step back. However, he is now back with Zheng and plans to guide her in 2024. In an interview with Punto De Break, Riba stated, “In life there are some situations in which you are not sure how much time you will need to solve those unforeseen events, they come without warning.”
He justified his choice to rejoin Zheng by explaining, “My personal situation changed, I had been off for more than a month and that’s when Qinwen appeared. I only went back to work once I set my personal issues.”
Riba’s decision to address the move came after facing criticism from Coco Gauff fans. They were upset at the abrupt end to his partnership with their favorite player. Some considered him unreliable for leaving one player for another. However, he later received support from fans, showing that opinions have shifted since his reunion with Zheng.