World No. 3 Coco Gauff said she is full of optimism heading into the clay-court season as she targets a first French Open crown, but the American said her immediate focus was on ending her trophy drought on the surface over the coming weeks.
Gauff last won a title on clay at the Emilia-Romagna Open in 2021, a year before losing in the Roland Garros final to Iga Swiatek. The 20-year-old Gauff will have a few chances to find a breakthrough win starting with Stuttgart this week and followed by tournaments in Madrid and Rome before the second Grand Slam of the year.
“For the clay season this year, I’m really optimistic,” Gauff told reporters ahead of her second-round match against fellow American Sachia Vickery on Wednesday. “Obviously the goal is to win the French Open, but that’s every season for any top player. Your goals should be to try to win the big tournaments.
“But I’m not looking at French Open right now. I’m focused on Stuttgart. I want to try to win Madrid or Rome or here. … I just want to get a recent clay title under my belt. So any of the ones along the next couple weeks would be nice.”
The US Open champion has added former coach Jean-Christophe Faurel to her team alongside Brad Gilbert as she looks to claim a second Grand Slam crown. Gauff has posted good results on clay with Faurel in her corner, notably winning the 2018 Roland Garros junior title.
“It’s nice to have someone on my team that knows me since I was young and knows me well,” said Gauff, who stopped working with the French coach in 2020. “So I’m really excited to have him back on the team.”
The French Open main draw will begin May 26. Gauff reached the quarterfinals last year.