Coco Gauff involved in car accident ahead of opening Roland Garros test: "I was like, 'We can keep going.' Then I walk out the car and it was not drivable"

Defending French Open champion Coco Gauff breezed past Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-0 in an emphatic return to Roland Garros. However, her preparation was severly hampered when she was forced to find other means of trasnport to Roland Garros after being involved in a car accident.

The two-time Grand Slam champion is under a lot of pressure to defend the 2000 points earned from last year while also challenging for back-to-back titles in Paris. After taking down her fellow countrywoman, she will be tasked to face off against qualifier Mayar Sherif in the second round.

After going a break down against Townsend early on, it felt like it could be another topsy turvey match for Gauff. However, she soon stamped her authority on the match. From 3-1 down, she would drop just one game while ticking off seven consecutive games to send a statement of intent on the clay courts of Roland Garros. After the match, she told TNT Sports USA why her preparation was less than ideal.

Gauff was involved in a car accident which left her vehicle as 'undrivable.' "So, we kind of got in a mini car accident on our way to the site today," Gauff said. "So, there was like this whole thing and it's supposed to go down, and the police told him to go, but the pole was still there.

"So we ran into it, and you felt the impact. I spilled my juice all over the car. I was like, 'We can keep going.' Then I walk out the car and it was not drivable."

She had to use alternate plans to get to the location. "We ended up taking a taxi and then a tournament car to the tournament. I feel like it's a good omen, maybe? Everything is happening in the first round."

Gauff was obviously pleased about the result, but also the fact that she was ok. "Eventful day, whenever it happens, it lets you not think about the match too much. Just that I'm happy to be there in one piece."

The 2025 champion will be hoping for no more distractions as she continues to make her way through the draw. She is in good form after coming off the back of another Rome Open final defeat, this time to three-time champion Elina Svitolina.

The pressure was sky-rocketing with a lot of points on the line for the 22-year-old to defend. Finals at Madrid and Rome were eased by a deep run in her home event in Miami. However, this is the big one that everyone has their eyes on. Down to sixth in the world in the WTA live rankings, there is still a long way to go in this tournament as Gauff dreams of more jubilation in the French capital, along with no more road incidents.