Coco Gauff blames coach for racket mishap during opening round win at French Open

Coco Gauff eventually breezed through the first round of the French Open on Tuesday, but the match was almost over before it even began because the American superstar forgot one vital thing: her rackets.

Coco Gauff eventually breezed through the first round of the French Open on Tuesday, but the match was almost over before it even began because the American superstar forgot one vital thing: her rackets. Gauff had walked out onto Court Philippe-Chatrier looking focused but her steely gaze soon turned to sheepish laughter after opening her bag. The 21-year-old looked confused before explaining she had left her rackets in the locker room, with her opponent Olivia Gadecki seeing the funny side. After a short wait and a conversation with her box, a ball boy ran out to deliver Gauff her rackets before she won the match in straight sets: 6-2, 6-2. “Honestly, as long as I’ve been on tour, my coach has always put the rackets in the bag before the match because he’s very superstitious,” she said after the win. “I’m blaming it on my coach. It’s OK.”