Many American players struggle with the long travel and slow surfaces of the European clay season, but Coco Gauff is completely in her element. Ahead of the Italian Open, the world No. 4 pushed back against the typical homesick narrative, explaining why she actively enjoys the overseas schedule and how her family helps keep her grounded as she prepares to defend her French Open title.
Coco Gauff Looks Back on Sacrifice And Thriving During European Tour
The expansion of Masters 1000 events into two-week tournaments has increased the physical toll on players. And the recently concluded Madrid Open really put Gauff’s strength to the ultimate test.
A stomach virus, which many players blamed on the lounge’s shrimp tacos, tore through the locker room, and Gauff was one of the primary victims. During her Round of 32 match against Sorana Cîrstea, a visibly exhausted Gauff actually threw up into a courtside bin, but she managed to push through the nausea to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. But the exhaustion caught up to her the next day in the Round of 16, where she lost to Linda Nosková (4-6, 6-1, 6-7).
There’s no denying the current French Open champion’s resilience on clay, but she credits her support system for her success. When the WTA Tour can be isolating, Gauff’s family helps her to carry a piece of home with her.
“I’m one of the few Americans that likes being in Europe. By the end of Wimbledon, I’m usually ready to go home, but right now I’m enjoying myself. I’m not someone who’s eager to be on the plane back home. I’ve been coming to Europe since I was ten, so it feels normal,” Gauff said in her pre-Rome interview. “I’m also very lucky that my parents can come to some tournaments and be with me.”
Having her mother, Candi, and her father, Corey, in her player box makes a lot of difference. However, Gauff joked with a caveat about her younger brothers, Codey and Cameron:
“I do miss my brothers, even though I don’t know if they miss me, but as far as being away from home, I think being in Europe is cool.”
Gauff’s comfort on the dirt is a contrast to the rest of her fellow Americans, especially the men. Recently, former US tennis star Sam Querrey bluntly addressed exactly why the American men consistently fail on the surface.
“The Americans never win on the European clay,” Querrey explained. “For the most part, the top Americans just play Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros, and maybe that week before. If they played Marrakesh, Kitzbuhel, Umag, and all these European 250s on clay, we would have a lot more titles on the European red clay.”
But unlike many, Gauff has been comfortable overseas since her childhood, having spent her junior career training in France.
Now, her immediate focus is entirely on the Rome Masters. As the No. 3 seed, Gauff receives a first-round bye, and she will begin her campaign in the second round against either Yulia Putintseva or Tereza Valentova. Meanwhile, it is yet to be seen what will happen to the French Open campaign, as players are protesting the prize money for the Grand Slams.
