America’s
Coco Gauff has expressed confidence in her preparations
for the
French Open. The 21-year-old, who is already regarded as one of the best
players currently playing in women’s tennis in the singles category, is set to start
her journey in the ongoing
Rome Open, where she will face Canada’s Victoria Mboko
in the round of 64.
The WTA 1000 event started on Tuesday where some of the top
players are participating to showcase their talent and secure the ultimate
prize. Gauff is coming into the competition on the back of an impressive
performance at the
Madrid Open where she finished runner-up after losing to reigning
world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final in straight sets with a score of
6-3, 7-6.
Gauff has recently spoken to Tennis Channel after her participation in the WTA event in the Spanish capital, where she stated that she feels more prepared ahead of the second Grand Slam of the year — the French Open. Gauff, who had already played a final at the Roland Garros in 2022, where she lost to Poland’s Iga Swiatek in straight sets, stated that from the very start, she always felt that the clay court was where she was the strongest. The
one-time Grand Slam further stated that normally, she feels that she is in the groove
by the start of the French Open. However, this year, she started feeling that
she was moving in a much better way during the Madrid Open.
“When I was younger, I always thought my best surface was
hard, and then I got on tour, and I thought my best surface was on clay, and
then the US Open, and I was like maybe it is hard!” said the Atlanta-born. “But
I don’t know, there’s something about clay that I have always felt comfortable
on. I feel like this year, more than ever, I am moving the best that I have,
especially so early in the clay season. I usually really don’t find it
[movement] until Roland Garros, but I feel like I have found it here [Madrid. It’s
a really physical surface and I think if you are not physically ready it kind
of exposes you and I think it rewards me because I am a physical player and I
do like to move and I can be aggressive, but also sit there and grind if I have
to.”