Coco Gauff’s telling admission over 100 degree Paris heat fires message to French Open rivals

Coco Gauff is off to the perfect starts.

The American began the defense of her French Open title with a straight sets victory over fellow American Taylor Townsend on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the iconic Roland Garros venue.

AFP

In searing heat, Gauff managed to seize the initiative after a gruelling first set between the pair that lasted over an hour.

In comparison, the second set took just 24 minutes as she lashed a backhand crosscourt winner to book her place in the second round with a 6-4 6-0 victory.

Temperatures at the Roland Garros have been nearing 100 degrees farenheit, but for the Florida-born star, it was merely another day.

“I’m from Florida, so this is nothing, shoutout Delray Beach,” Gauff said.

“The reason I was using the ice was because my physio before I went out on court she was like ‘please use the ice today’ because she knows I probably wouldn’t.

“Honestly I felt more bad for the fans I was like ‘dang you guys are watching us play in this heat’ I was hoping no one passed out – so I am glad I was able to keep it short.

Gauff will now face Egypt’s Mayar Sherif in the second round, after she defeated Dalma Galfi 7-5, 6-4.

Her projected third-round opponent is an in-form Anastasia Potapova, fresh off the back of a semi-final appearance at the Mutua Madrid Open, or Britain’s Katie Boulter.

Should Gauff progress as deep as the quarter-final stages, she could yet come up against Amanda Anisimova – a two-time Grand Slam runner-up in 2025.

Anisimova has missed the entire clay-court season with injury, while a rematch against Sabalenka could only occur at the semi-final stage.

AFP

AFP

Gauff hoping French Open can bring first trophy of 2026

It has been a heartbreaking start to 2026 for the American, who has progressed to the latter-stages of every event she has competed in.

At the Australian Open, Gauff advanced to the quarterfinals where she was defeated by Elina Svitolina in straight sets.

She would fall to Svitolina once again 6–4, 6–7(13), 6–4 in just over three hours at the semi finals of the Dubai Open.

Entering Indian Wells as the fourth seed, she would make it all the way to the final.

This time, it was Aryna Sabalenka who would defeat her in three sets.

Gauff advanced to the final of the Italian Open for the second consecutive year after defeating Sorana Cirstea in straight sets, but a familiar foe awaited her.

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Svitolina once again, was on the opposite side of the court, and it was a familiar result.

Despite coming back to take the second set, Gauff eventually fell 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6 to the Ukrainian.

12 months on, Gauff has started in fine fashion as she chases down a third Grand Slam singles title.

Last year in Paris, she fought back from a set down to beat Sabalenka to add the second leg of a career Grand Slam to her CV and end Swiatek’s three year run champion.

Should she retain her title, she’ll do something that proved to be beyond even the great Serena Williams – defending the French Open crown.

Chris Evert was the last American to achieve the feat, back in 1986 with Williams missing out on back-to-back titles on all three occasions she was champion in Paris.

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