Coco Gauff returns to the French Open this month as the defending champion, and she should feel confident about her chances of holding onto that title.
Even with some lingering concerns around her serve and forehand, there are clear signs of improvement every time she steps onto the court.
Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are always going to be tough opponents, but Gauff’s quickness and relentless energy give her a real edge on clay. The surface lets her lean into those strengths in a way hard courts often don’t.
But even though clay seems like it suits her game perfectly, Gauff has been open about not being a huge fan of playing on it.
Coco Gauff shares honest thoughts on playing on clay
With her first match in Madrid approaching, the 20-year-old spoke to BBC Sport about her feelings towards clay, using a light-hearted analogy to capture the relationship.
“You know, if you have a guy, and they just treat you good, and they do everything right, but it’s still, like, just not there,” she began, laughing. “That’s how I feel about clay.”
Gauff went on: “Like, I have great results on Clay. I do well on clay, but my socks get dirty, like, I have to take off my shoes before I get in my room.
“It’s just a lot of things that I also don’t like about it, but my career has been the first of everything on clay. Junior title there was my first Grand final and first doubles Grand Slam.
Reflecting further on her season so far, Gauff said she was pleased with how her serve has come together since moving onto the dirt. After months of battling inconsistency with it earlier in the year.
Rafael Nadal’s impact on Coco Gauff’s approach to clay court tennis
Earlier this month at the Stuttgart Open, Gauff was asked again about clay and who influenced her game the most on that surface.
“The greatest clay court player is Rafa,” she began, smiling.
”I don’t quite play like him but I do try to hit my forehand like he does on clay. I don’t run around as much because my forehand isn’t as good as Rafa. But I do try to hit it like him.”
When someone suggested she might be a right-handed version of Nadal, she laughed and replied: “Like a Walmart version of Rafa.”
Gauff then added: ”I don’t want to be obliterated online. Like a lesser version of Rafa.”
Nadal’s influence on her style is clear, but interestingly, Iga Swiatek has also been training with the Spaniard lately in hopes of regaining her own top form on clay.
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