Other than being American, Coco Gauff and Frances Tiafoe both have something in common.
The pair have recent cases of forgetting to bring their rackets with them onto the court.
In March, the ATP’s World number 16 did not remember to bring the key piece of equipment with him when he took on Damir Dzumhur in Indian Wells.
Just two months later, Gauff managed to do the exact same thing prior to her opening match at the French Open, and she could not believe it.
What did Coco Gauff and Frances Tiafoe discuss after she forgot her rackets at the French Open?
As Coco Gauff prepared to warm up for her opening French Open match against Olivia Gadecki, she realised her rackets were not with her.
The World number two looked bemused before a ball boy came to deliver her rackets soon after and Gauff completed a 6-2, 6-2 win over Gadecki.
In response Tiafoe joked on social media: “@cocogauff you gotta get more professional I’d never do something like this.” Gauff has since spoken to reporters about her and Tiafoe’s identical error, and shared what they said to each other about it.
“I literally told him that I expected it from you, but the fact it happened to me because I feel like I am a professional person!,” Gauff said.
“Usually I am someone if anybody knows me, I am someone who can find a comeback real quick even if I am wrong. I am one of those people who can still defend myself and I don’t like losing arguments.
“But that one I just had to take it. I had nothing to say. Especially as I gave him a lot of cr— for it and then not even six months later I did the same thing on an even bigger stage. I have learned my lesson and hopefully it won’t happen again!”
Coco Gauff responds to Frances Tiafoe’s claim that she is very mature
Gauff has been in the spotlight since she defeated Venus Williams at the Wimbledon Championships when she was just 15.
Since then, there has been plenty of expectation and attention on the American’s shoulders, all of which she has dealt with extremely well.
Tiafoe described Gauff as ‘Little Miss Mature’, as Gauff had to grow up in front of the world and very quickly at that.
Adding weight to Tiafoe’s claim, Gauff explained: “I mean, I get that a lot. I definitely for sure feel like when I was a junior I was for sure more mature than some of my peers. I don’t know why. I feel like I have always been like that.
“When I was in school I was always first one to class. I remember getting on the yellow for the behaviour chance once and that was like the worst day of my life. So I am definitely someone who prides myself on being a good example.
“I think it’s because I have two younger brothers so I feel like I have to be that example. So it is true. I am not going to argue with that.
“Most people do say I am mature. I don’t know. I feel like maybe playing tennis forces you to grow up faster for some people. Maybe not him but yeah!”
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