Coco Gauff was imperious yesterday, as she waltzed to a straight sets win over Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 6-1 6-2.
The US number one and finalist at Roland Garros back in 2022, there have been huge expectations surrounding her likelihood of winning this tournament at last, after impressing on the dirt over the years.
However, with Iga Swiątek performing as well as she is, the 20-year-old will certainly have her work cut out.
Especially if she is handed a night match slot, which could prove devastating for preparation this late in an event.
Coco Gauff reacts to late Roland Garros finishes
Speaking to the Roland Garros Press after her comfortable victory over Cocciaretto, unsurprisingly interest turned to last night’s marathon match between Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti on Saturday.
She would note: ‘I definitely think finishing at 3 a.m. is — I feel like a lot of times people think you’re done, but really, 3 a.m., then you have press and then you have to shower, eat, and then a lot of times people do treatments, so that’s probably not going to bed until 5 at the earliest, maybe 6, and even 7 a.m.
‘I definitely think it’s not healthy. It may be not fair for those who have to play late because it does ruin your schedule. I’ve been lucky I haven’t been put in a super late finish yet.
What can be done? I know on the tour side they’re thinking about putting matches can’t start after a certain time.
‘I don’t know if it’s going to be a Grand Slam rule, but I know on the WTA Tour. I think that’s something to look at. Maybe if a match is going long, possibly moving courts. Then I know it’s tough because, especially here, it’s only one night match, and people obviously paid for
those tickets.
‘It’s a complicated thing, but I definitely think for the health and safety of the players it would be in the sport’s best interest I think to try to avoid those matches finishing — or
starting after a certain time. Obviously, you can’t control when they finish.’
Novak Djokovic will need a miraculous French Open recovery
With Djokovic at the epicentre of such a topic, the Serbian has unsurprisingly put more eyes on the issue.
After all, having just turned 37 years of age, and with his power having somewhat waned throughout 2024, how this might affect his preparation for the rest of Roland Garros is huge.
It could prove catastrophic, and should he recover and manage to go on to retain his title, it would mark a truly outstanding feat of both sporting excellence and physical perfection.
However, with young and energetic stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner still in the mix, he will have his work cut out.
Djokovic thanked the French Open fans for their support in pushing through, but even they might not be able to spur him on to victory against any of these three straight after such a slog.
Going five sets with Musetti, and only finishing at 3 am, will have hardly aided him in his achieving his goals.
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