‘Even when I’m not at my best, I can find that extra level here’ Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff returns to Mirra Andreeva at the Italian Open recently. Pic/AFP

USA's Coco Gauff is keen to sidestep any pressure that might come with starting Roland Garros as the defending women's champion as she returns to the site of her most consistent Grand Slam success.

Gauff comes into the tournament seeded fourth, fresh from reaching the Rome final on clay where she lost to Elina Svitolina.

She won her first Grand Slam at the US Open in 2023, but Roland Garros is where she has shone most consistently. She has reached the quarter-finals in each of her last five appearances in the French capital, including winning the tournament in 2025.

She wants that record to be a source of strength rather than expectation. "Whenever I come to this tournament, I don't even think about my past results here. I know I play well here. Even if I'm not doing my best in the match, I know I can find that level just because of my history here," she added.

Gauff opens her title defence in Paris against compatriot Taylor Townsend.

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