Coco Gauff has appreciated Rafael Nadal’s mindset and intensity while claiming that the Spaniard’s charisma is unmatched in the game.
This week in Rome, Gauff and Nadal will compete in the WTA and ATP 1000 tournaments. While the American is participating in her fifth Italian Open of her career, ten-time champion Nadal is making his farewell appearance at the Foro Italico, a facility that bears his name.
During a press conference held before the competition, the 20-year-old praised the legacy that Nadal has created throughout his career, especially in Rome.
Gauff stated her remarks about Nadal and said: “Yeah, honestly, it’s very weird for me as a fan to come to terms with just because the majority of my life he’s been the Roland Garros winner. Yeah, I mean, I guess it’s now hitting. I think I was in Madrid. It didn’t hit me that he was retiring yet. Now, when I saw them do the little ceremony after, I was like, This is real life; this is for real. I feel a little bit sad about it because he’s one of my favourite players to watch. His mentality and intensity are things I admire. Honestly, he’s probably the only player that, when I practice on the court next to him, I would zone out of my practice to watch him.”
She added: “I’ve trained against—not against—but next to some incredible players on tour, and he’s the only one that my eye wonders about. No disrespect to other players, but it’s something about him, his aura and the intensity with which he does everything. It’s just something for me as a young player, to look up to. Also, just the grace he shows. He’s a very nice person. I remember last year at Roland Garros, he touched me on the back and said, Hi, good job. I didn’t respond till 20 tiles were already down the stairs because I couldn’t believe he spoke to me.”
Gauff concluded: “I think it’s little things like that that I’ll miss seeing on tour. The way he carries himself is just great. His legacy is going to be something that is almost, like, unmatched when it comes to the intensity with which he approaches everything. I think that’s something that the players will miss and the fans will miss.”
Coco Gauff in 2024
Currently ranked no.3 (career-high), the American played her last match on the 29th of April when she surrendered to world no.16 Madison Keys 7-6(4) 4-6 6-4
in the 4th round in Madrid (draw).This season the American has achieved a composed 21-7 win-loss record. The American clinched 1 title in Auckland.
Coco Gauff will take on the world no.55 Magdalena Frech in the 2nd round on Thursday at 3:30 pm on GRAND STAND ARENA. Their record is 1-0 for Gauff.
The American clinched 1 title in 2024 in Auckland.
The American won 7 titles in her career: 5 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 1 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Rafael Nadal in 2024
At the moment ranked no.305, the Spaniard played his last match on the 30th of April when he lost to world no.23 Jiri Lehecka 7-5 6-4 in the 4th round in Madrid (draw).
Until now, during this year Nadal has managed to achieve a composed 6-3 record.
Rafael Nadal will face the world no.108 Zizou Bergs in the 1st round on Thursday at 1:00 pm on CENTER COURT. In the past, they have never competed against each other as of now in top events.
Nadal won 92 titles in his career: 24 on hard courts, 63 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play at the French Open (French Open). The main draw will start on the 26th of May.