Pere Riba (Barcelona, 36) sits in a room in the hotel where he’s staying, close to Central Park, and talks about what it means to lead a tennis player’s footsteps with as much projection and media clout What to play Coco Gough. The 19-year-old American is not only a player who continues to rise to the top, but will also be playing in his first U.S. Open final.Is a brand,ambassador. Serena Williams retires for one year, E…
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Pere Riba (Barcelona, 36) sits in a room in the hotel where he’s staying, close to Central Park, and talks about what it means to lead a tennis player’s footsteps with as much projection and media clout What to play Coco Gough. The 19-year-old American is not only a player who continues to rise to the top, but will also be playing in his first U.S. Open final.Is a brand,ambassador. A year into her retirement, Serena Williams, considered by the United States to be the next link in the chain of success in North American tennis, mourns the decline of the championship and awaits the eventual breakthrough of the young woman from Florida.
Riba is ranked 65th in the world and stopped competing at the age of 30. He remains connected to tennis, and after training Roberto Cabares and Pedro Martinez, he aligned himself with Varvara Lepchenko, Cheng Chin-wen and now Gauff. The father of the latter – 6-4, 7-5 Karolina Muchova enters today’s final (22:00, Movistar) against Aryna Sabalenka (0-6, 7-6 (1) and 7-6 (5) vs. Madison Keys) — Following the coach closely, he and the players got to work after a phone conversation. It seems no coincidence that he was benched in June, coinciding with an expected rebound. Before landing at the U.S. Open, Goff won the two most important tournaments on his record: Washington and Cincinnati, and now he will play in his second Grand Slam final after losing at last year’s French Open.
Riba analyzed it and realized he had a diamond on his hands; Roger Federer captured the 15-year-old through his agency (Team8) at Wimbledon It left a deep impression on people. “We introduced some fundamental changes, reducing the further back section and cleaning up the right side,” he said. “I always say that in the process of change, it is not the result but the form that matters; if you play tennis well and know what you are supposed to do, the result is much easier. I seek evolution and she is achieving it . Not all players play the game the same way and Coco is finding his identity. He has taken a few steps forward but I think he can still improve a lot. He has evolved so, so much… …”, the coach stressed.
This edition, Gough is the most important. In fact, it always has been, and people have always associated Serena with her due to her precocity and transcendence beyond the slopes. Gough has social responsibility, oratory and brand appeal, and in addition to connecting perfectly with new audiences, she also has the pressure of being a theoretical heir apparent. “She’s had to deal with this since she was very young,” Riba said, “but she’s handling it very well. She’s a very mature girl for her age, down to earth. Before that she had It was a little unsettling, but now she’s more confident and looks strong, and when you feel mentally strong, you improve unconsciously.”
Forehand, rest and footwork
Riba described a professional who was “super competitive, very hard-working, a very nice person,” adding that she was also “a good conversationalist who knows how to listen.” Gauff, the seventh highest-paid tennis player (male or female) last year with €15 million, no longer blames everything on results but “enjoys the process and the day-to-day work”. In this sense, the desire to enjoy and grow, the coach points to Alcaraz as an example. “With each passing game, Carlos is a better player and the same thing happened with her,” he noted. The man from Murcia and North America exudes charm and freshness, “so when we walk down the street they stop us from time to time. But be careful, she handles it very humbly and when they tell It’s not easy at all when you’re beautiful and the best. But she knows that.”
Riba highlighted the physical abilities of his players – “the best at the moment at an athletic level” – and clarified that she and Poland’s Iga Swiatek are the most athletic on the track. “We attach great importance to footwork (shift). Basically, Coco is very fast, but playing with the ball (i.e. when hitting the ball) is just as important as playing without the ball. She played well at the impact level, but then she lost at the positional level. He’s moving a lot better now and seems to be getting the ball more, but it’s just a positioning issue. “Reading the space better,” said the coach, who believes Goff can take a big leap next season and said, “I’m here.”
Regardless, this show will lead to the finale in New York. “Everyone says they have to win this game, but I don’t think so. He’s 19, he’s growing, he’s learning. She takes small steps and is receptive; you ask and he answers you. Another thing The thing is, when she’s 24, she can be called upon, but if she continues to have that hunger and is willing to improve, she’ll be a candidate to win a Grand Slam and be No. 1 in the world. When the raw material is really, really good. , the results will be seen soon. They compare her to Serena, but she wants to go her own way. The room for improvement is huge and shocking. But yes, the program is going well. Good…” said Riba.
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