Coco Gauff Optimistic Ahead Of Clay Court Swing

American Coco Gauff said she is “really optimistic” about the upcoming clay-court season as the world no. 3 player prepares to compete at the Stuttgart Open in Germany this week.

Gauff, 20, is due to face fellow American Sachia Vickery later on Wednesday in the opening match of the WTA 500 tournament.

Gauff has not won a claycourt title since her triumph at the Emilia-Romagna Open in 2021. The following year, she reached the final of the French Open, losing to world no. 1 Iga Swiatek.

“For the clay court season this year, I’m really optimistic,” Gauff said. “Obviously, the goal is to win the French Open, but that’s every season of any top player. Your goal should be to try to win the big tournament.”

Gauff, who won her maiden major title at the 2023 U.S. Open, said she is not thinking about the French Open right now and remains fully focused on playing in Stuttgart.

After the Stuttgart Open, the claycourt swing will continue in Madrid followed by Rome and Strasbourg before the French Open begins on May 26.

“I want to try to win Madrid or Rome or here [Stuttgart],” Gauff said. “The last time I won a clay-court title was a couple of years ago if I’m not mistaken, so I kind of just want to get a recent clay title under my belt. So any of the ones along the next couple weeks would be nice.”

Gauff feels she is a title contender at all tournaments, especially after her Grand Slam victory at the U.S. Open in September when she defeated world no. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the final with a comeback victory.

This year, Gauff started her season with a successful defense of her Auckland title and recorded her best Australian Open result by making the semifinal.

In the first four WTA 1000 tournaments of the year, Gauff reached the semifinals in Indian Wells, was knocked out in the first round in Doha, quarterfinals in Dubai and Round of 16 in Miami.

I’m always feeling confident about myself,” Gauff said. “Especially after the U.S. Open, I can be a contender. Semifinal in Australia, losing to Aryna who ended up winning.

“I feel like I’m definitely a contender in all the tournaments, and it just comes down to the crunch-time moments and who can perform better.”

Gauff has re-united with former coach Jean-Cristophe Faurel after they ended their partnership in 2020 on good terms.

Gauff said Faurel previously had visa issues which stopped him from entering the U.S. but things are now sorted and he will rejoin the team alongside Brad Gilbert.

“I’m glad that the government let us be together again,” she said with a laugh.

Gauff first worked with Faurel when she was 14 and he was in her coaching box during her remarkable Wimbledon debut in 2019.