In a moment that blended humor with high-stakes competition, Coco Gauff, the world No. 2 and defending French Open champion, sparked laughter at Roland Garros on May 27, 2025, when she stepped onto Court Philippe-Chatrier for her first-round match without her tennis rackets. The 21-year-old American, poised to begin her 2025 French Open campaign against Australia’s Olivia Gadecki, realized her blunder just as she prepared to warm up, prompting a sheepish grin and a quick signal to her team in the stands. The lighthearted mishap, which delayed the match briefly, became an instant viral sensation, but Gauff’s composure and subsequent 6-2, 6-2 victory underscored why she remains a formidable force on clay.
As Gauff unzipped her bag, expecting to find her mint-colored rackets, she found only drinks and other gear, mouthing, “I have no rackets,” to her team. The crowd erupted in laughter as a ball boy sprinted from the locker room with her rackets, earning cheers and a nod from the court announcer, who quipped, “That’s better.” Gauff, known for her poise, shared a chuckle with Gadecki, who later joked, “Now that I think about it, it seems like that was the only way I was going to win the match.” The incident, while amusing, didn’t derail Gauff’s focus. She powered through the match in just 71 minutes, leveraging her blistering groundstrokes and relentless speed to dominate Gadecki, advancing to the second round with ease.
Post-match, Gauff playfully pointed the finger at her coach, Jean-Christophe Faurel, whose superstitious routine of regripping her rackets daily led to the mix-up. “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 told reporters, adding, “He likes to grip each racket new each day. I don’t care — I can play with a dirty grip.” The gaffe was particularly ironic given Gauff’s recent teasing of compatriot Frances Tiafoe, who forgot his rackets at Indian Wells in March. “I go on the court and I realize I have no rackets, and I literally just made fun of Frances for it in Madrid. Now I’ll be quiet,” she said with a laugh, acknowledging the karmic twist. Her self-deprecating humor shone through on social media, where she posted, “I can’t believe I’m in the same stat line as @bigfoe1998 smh 🤦🏾♀️,” poking fun at herself.
Gauff’s blunder wasn’t unprecedented. Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, now a French Open analyst, shared a similar tale, recalling forgetting her rackets—and shoes—at the US Open. “I went to the US Open and halfway over to Flushing Meadows and I realized I didn’t bring my racket bag,” she said, empathizing with Gauff. Despite the hiccup, Gauff’s performance reaffirmed her status as a top contender. The 2023 US Open champion and 2022 French Open finalist, who clinched the 2024 Roland Garros title, showcased her clay-court prowess, navigating blustery conditions to secure a comfortable win. Her ability to laugh off the mistake, as she noted, “probably relaxed me going into the match,” highlighting her mental resilience.
The incident added a humanizing layer to Gauff’s quest for a second French Open crown. With recent runner-up finishes at the Madrid and Rome Opens, she’s among the favorites, trailing only Aryna Sabalenka in the rankings. Her next challenge is a second-round clash with Tereza Valentova, ranked No. 211, on May 28, 2025. Gauff’s ability to shake off early nerves bodes well, especially after another recent gaffe in Rome, where she served while her opponent wasn’t ready. “Honestly, I thought they put the rackets in the bag, and my side court bag is filled with drinks and everything,” she explained to Sloane Stephens on TNT, noting the bag’s deceptive weight. As she prepares for Valentova, Gauff’s focus is clear: “The most important thing is to play with a racket. So [after finding them] I was getting through the first step.”
This lighthearted moment at Roland Garros underscores Gauff’s ability to balance intensity with levity, a trait that endears her to fans. As she navigates the pressures of defending her title and chasing history, her racket mishap will likely become a cherished anecdote in a career already brimming with accolades. With her team now on high alert, Gauff is set to keep her rackets close—and her humor closer—as she aims for another deep run in Paris.
“`
# Coco Gauff’s Racket Mishap Lights Up Roland Garros
## A Viral Blunder
On May 27, 2025, Coco Gauff, the world No. 2, caused a stir at the French Open when she walked onto Court Philippe-Chatrier without her rackets. The defending champion, set to face Olivia Gadecki, unzipped her bag to find only drinks, mouthing, “I have no rackets.” A ball boy’s swift delivery of her mint-colored rackets prompted the announcer’s quip, “That’s better,” drawing crowd laughter.
## Gauff’s Response
Gauff blamed her coach, Jean-Christophe Faurel, for the oversight. “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. Having teased Frances Tiafoe for a similar gaffe, she added, “I literally just made fun of Frances for it in Madrid. Now I’ll be quiet.” Her social media post echoed the humor: “I can’t believe I’m in the same stat line as @bigfoe1998 smh 🤦🏾♀️.”
## Dominating Despite the Gaffe
The mix-up didn’t faze Gauff, who dispatched Gadecki 6-2, 6-2 in 71 minutes. “It probably relaxed me going into the match,” she noted. Gadecki quipped, “Now that I think about it, it seems like that was the only way I was going to win the match.” Gauff’s clay-court mastery shone, reinforcing her status as a title favorite.
## Not Alone in Forgetting
Caroline Wozniacki shared a similar tale, recalling forgetting her rackets and shoes at the US Open. “I went to the US Open and halfway over to Flushing Meadows and I realized I didn’t bring my racket bag,” she said. Gauff’s ability to laugh off the moment, coupled with her dominant win, highlights her resilience as she eyes a second French Open title against Tereza Valentova next.
“`
Coco Gauff forgot all of her rackets before her match 😂😅
Still dominated though 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oxaRL6BAlc
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 27, 2025
Leave a Reply