ROLAND-GARROS
18 May - 7 June 2026
Paris has always been a happy place for Coco Gauff. In 2018, as a precocious 14-year-old she became the youngest girls’ champion here since 1993. Seven years later the Florida native was back at the podium, this time raising the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen after a gritty comeback win against Aryna Sabalenka in last year's thrilling women's final.
Paris: Coco Gauff’s happy place
Coco Gauff hopes to follow the 2025 script at Roland-Garros this year.
The numbers speak for themselves. The defending champion is 27-5 in main draw matches, and only two players not named Iga Swiatek – Martina Trevisan and Barbora Krejcikova – have defeated her on the Parisian clay.
Though she’s defending a Grand Slam title for the second time in her career, Gauff isn’t dwelling on the significance of last year’s run, or the fact that she’s considered one of the favourites to win this year’s title.
➡️ Roland-Garros 2026 women's singles draw
“It's obviously different thinking about last year, but last year feels like ten years ago,” she said during media day on Friday in Paris.
I think I've experienced every scenario that can prepare me for Roland-Garros
That said, there is clearly something about playing in Paris that puts the 22-year-old at ease. Perhaps it’s all the winning she has done here. Maybe it is the sense of joy she gets from taking her annual work trip to the city of lights.
Gauff admits that there is a buoyancy to her tennis when she plays on the terre battue, and says that her past success, almost subconsciously, helps creates winning vibes.
“Even if I'm not doing my best in the match, I know I can find that level just because of my history here, but it's also something I'm not thinking about entering the match,” she said.
A finalist here in 2022 as well, Gauff says she doesn’t remember much from the 6-1, 6-3 defeat she suffered at the hands of four-time champion Swiatek that year. Only the fact that the loss made her burn for a chance to try again.
“I was just so nervous,” Gauff recalled. “Honestly, I don't remember much. I just remember in the trophy ceremony, being, like, ‘I never want to lose a match like this again.’”
Rome final, Paris title
If she can successfully defend her title, Gauff will have followed the same script as last year, when she lost the Rome final to Jasmine Paolini and went on to triumph in Paris. The No.4-seeded American lost to Elina Svitolina last weekend in Rome’s trophy tilt, but feels that battling through difficulties to reach the last hurdle was enough to bolster her confidence for the fortnight to come.
“I think this week I experienced all the ups and downs that a tournament can bring you before a Grand Slam,” she said in Rome. “I've been down, had the lead, lost the lead, I've been in the final, been down match point – I think I've experienced every scenario that can prepare me for Roland-Garros.
“Hopefully I can actually learn from each scenario and do better.”