Coco Gauff ended her clay court season by winning the French Open for the first time.
The 21-year-old reached Madrid and Italian Open finals prior to arriving in Paris, but suffered straight-set defeats to Aryna Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini respectively.
In Saturday’s final, the World number one was Gauff’s adversary once again, but the second seed ensured there was a difficult outcome than the 2022 final against Iga Swiatek.
Gauff came from a set down to clinch a 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory and lift her second major and first at the French Open.
With the grass court season starting and Wimbledon on the horizon, Gauff will be determined to have some success on the grass at SW19.
Tracy Austin says what Coco Gauff must change if she wants to win Wimbledon
Coco Gauff will soon have to bring her French Open celebrations to an end with the grass court season now underway.
The World number two is set to begin her campaign on grass at the Berlin Open, before heading to Wimbledon.
Gauff has yet to make an impact at the All-England Club, but Tennis Channel pundit Tracy Austin explains why and outlines what she wants to see Gauff do differently at Wimbledon this year.
“She’s been to the fourth round three times and never past that and I think it’s because of the extreme grip on the forehand, players have been able to rush her on that side,” the two-time US Open champion said.
“But what I’d like to see from Coco this year on the grass is to go a little bit bigger on her serve. If she can really find that big first serve, and her backhand is perfect on grass, it’s hard and it’s flat.
“If she can use that forehand and try to flatten it out more, even use that backhand slice, I do think that the confidence of winning your second major is really going to help her just to swing more freely. Even the whole rest of the year she’s going to be playing with more freedom.”
What is Coco Gauff’s Wimbledon record?
Gauff has not won a title on grass and she has yet to produce her best tennis at Wimbledon.
After Gauff reached the Wimbledon fourth round as a 15-year-old in 2019 and beat five-time champion Venus Williams along the way, many thought Gauff would have more success at the tournament.
But six years later, Wimbledon has become Gauff’s least successful Slam and she has not progressed beyond the fourth round. Gauff has won 11 of her 16 matches at Wimbledon.
She has reached the last 16 on three occasions, but Gauff looks to have the confidence and form to have her best run at Wimbledon this year.
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