Coco Gauff shook up the tennis world when she joined forces with Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert earlier this year. However, the partnership was short-lived as Riba and Gauff announced their split, citing personal issues on Riba’s part. Riba has since made a comeback to guide a rising Chinese WTA star, and he’s here to set the record straight.
Before his time with Gauff, Riba was a key mentor for 21-year-old Qinwen Zheng. Riba and Zheng initially worked together in 2021 but parted ways after the French Open. Riba then made the decision to join Gauff’s team and played a pivotal role in her success. However, he’s now back to working with Zheng and has spoken openly about his reasons for doing so.
Riba has revealed that personal and family issues led to his break from coaching, but he’s ready to put those challenges behind him and guide Zheng in 2024. In an interview with Punto De Break, he explained, “In life, there are some situations in which you are not sure how much time you will need to resolve those unexpected events; they are situations that come without warning.”
He also addressed the decision to reunite with Zheng, stating, “We tried to make progress on both sides, but in the end, we couldn’t make it work for 2024, and that’s how everything has been going. My personal situation changed, I had been off for more than a month, and that’s when Qinwen appeared. I only returned to work when I resolved my personal issues.”
Riba’s choice to explain his decision to reunite with Zheng comes after facing criticism from Coco Gauff’s fans. Some were unhappy with his departure from Gauff’s team, while others accused him of switching sides. However, Riba is focused on the future and is determined to guide Zheng to success.
