Reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff had a turbulent start to her title defense – before she even stepped on the court.
The American, 22, began her Roland Garros campaign against compatriot Taylor Townsend on Philippe-Chatrier on Tuesday.
However, the two-time Grand Slam champion had a near miss en route to Stade Roland Garros.
The world No. 4 revealed that she got in a ‘mini car accident’ on her way to her opening match.
‘We ran into a (pole). You felt a little impact, I spilled my juice all over the car,’ Gauff told the TNT broadcast. ‘I was like, ‘We can keep going,’ then I walk out of the car, and the car was not driveable.’
Thankfully for Gauff, the accident did not put her off her game as she went on to beat Townsend in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0.
Coco Gauff revealed that she was in a car accident on her way to the French Open on Tuesday
The reigning French Open champion had a turbulent start to her title defense
Despite the unfortunate delay in getting to the French Open grounds, Gauff managed to see the positive side, claiming it even worked in her favor.
‘I feel like it’s a good omen maybe?’ Gauff told TNT. ‘It was an eventful day. I feel like whenever that happens it lets you not think about the match too much … [it’s] more about I’m just happy to be here in one piece.’
Gauff’s friend and former pro tennis player Chris Eubanks, who now serves as an analyst for the TNT crew, branded the accident a ‘pretty crazy start to your title defense.’
Gauff had to start her match earlier than expected when there was a retirement in another match on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
‘And then right before I went onto court, my dress got stuck, so my physio was in the bathroom trying to help me take it off,’ Gauff said.
Gauff’s win over Townsend comes just over two weeks after she shared that she was dealing with ‘personal things off the court.’
She hit herself on the head with her racket twice while walking toward her chair for the set break during her match against Solana Sierra at the Italian Open earlier this month.
‘Just personal things off court that I’m just trying to get through, so… Yeah, but then you also remember how much fun you have. I think my regret today was not enjoying the battle, for sure,’ she said in her post-match press conference.
The American went on to beat compatriot Taylor Townsend in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0
She dropped the first set before eventually going on to win the match in three sets, 5-7, 6-0, 6-4.
Dropping the first set is ‘not something I want to do or make a habit of,’ Gauff told the Tennis Channel after the match.
‘You go through things off court, then you come on court and everything gets amplified. I didn’t want to throw my racket or anything, so I took it out on myself. But maybe it’s better to hit the ground than myself.’
Gauff ultimately lost the Italian Open final to Elina Svitolina in three sets.
