Coco Gauff has successfully begun her title defense at the US Open. With a straight-sets victory over France’s Varvara Gracheva in the first round, the previously dismal hard-court season has finally picked up for Gauff. The reigning champion is now past her teenage. However, that’s not the only difference in her run this season as compared to the last one. Since January 2024, Gauff has had a new ace up her sleeve in the form of a mystery man.
Beside Brad Gilbert, a young man in a hat can sometimes be found in Gauff’s box. This is Felipe Ramirez Luna, a former professional player turned member of the American WTA star’s team, who is often spotted with a Mouratoglou Academy cap perched on his head. The duo reportedly started working together this January, just before the Australian Open. Per tennis journalist Gaspar Ribeiro Lança, Gauff wanted Luna to travel with her for the Australian summer in 2024.
Originally hailing from Columbia, Ramirez was a tennis whiz and started playing the sport at the age of 6. By the time he turned 13, the Luna family had two older sons who had been studying in the States by then. And so began their relocation process, bringing Felipe Ramirez closer to realizing his tennis dreams.
https://twitter.com/gasparlanca/status/1742841599023845583
Ramirez also noted how Gauff’s team had contacted him in the last pre-season to fill in for another member who had left. Eventually, he became part of the team but he has clarified that he’s not exactly in a proper coaching position just yet. “I am the one who is with Coco on a day-to-day basis; I have to be aware of her practices, schedules, be aware of the racquets, the balls, that the court is in perfect condition, everything so that when she comes to train everything is 100%,” Ramirez added.
