Coco Gauff is on a mission to become a Grand Slam champion again at the French Open.
The American youngster won the US Open in 2023 but hasn’t managed to add another to her collection since.
Now, Gauff has a golden chance to reach another final when she faces Lois Boisson in the semi-final after the world number 361 followed up her win against Jessica Pegula by beating Mirra Andreeva.
It’s easy to forget that Gauff is only 21-years-old, with the player bursting onto the scene in 2019 by dumping Venus Williams out of Wimbledon as a teenager.
Gauff has achieved so much in the game of tennis in such a short space of time, and there is still so much untapped potential when it comes to her game.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty ImagesWhat Coco Gauff has told Carlos Alcaraz about his tennis
When it comes to the tennis tour, it’s as jam-packed as ever and that has led to players bemoaning the demanding number of tournaments.
The tennis world at the professional level doesn’t leave much time for fun away from the court, and striking the right balance is key for the mental state of the players.
In his latest Netflix documentary, Alcaraz suggested that he wants to lead a normal life and spend more time with his friends and family.
Gauff has echoed this sentiment and has now shared what she’s told Alcaraz during their chats about tennis before.
The French Open semi-finalist said: “It’s something that I am trying to do more just because I feel like so much of my life I was so locked in. Obviously, it is great to be locked in, but it was a bit easier in juniors because you would play a tournament and be home for three weeks and then play a tournament and be home for another three weeks.
“On tour, it is quite the opposite. It is something that I try to model on him. I have told him that I have tried to have fun on the court like him and smile as much as he does, and it’s something that he inspires me to do more, just to enjoy life in general, I find that you play better. For sure, I think he has a great philosophy, and it’s something I am trying to model.
“I don’t think I will be out there smiling as much as Carlos does sometimes when he’s losing or wins a match, but every now and then I try to crack some. I usually am a more serious person on the court, but I try to remember it’s just a game and try to treat it like that.”
Gauff and Alcaraz could both be celebrating at the weekend
Alcaraz won the French Open last year and knows what it’s like to lift the famous trophy.
Gauff reached the final back in 2022 but was beaten by Iga Swiatek, who is one of the players in the other semi-final.
The pair could be celebrating big wins this weekend with both players currently producing some brilliant tennis.
Gauff’s reservations about a lack of family time and living a normal life are fair, and it seems reasonable to say that fewer tournaments would be ideal.
With the money bigger than ever in the sport, however, it’s unlikely that any will be getting cut anytime soon.
With that in mind, the players are going to have to take the breaks as and when they can as they bid to become masters of their trade on a tennis court.
It’s great to think that Alcaraz and Gauff have had a chat about these things, though, and it would appear that the pair have a good relationship on the tour.
Both are extremely likeable and it would be brilliant if the two stars could win their respective titles this weekend.