Coco Gauff Overcomes Racquet Drama to Secure Confident Win at Roland-Garros 2025 Opener

Coco Gauff Handles Pre-Match Setback and Triumphs in Roland-Garros Opener

Not many players can shrug off chaos before they even hit their first serve, but Coco Gauff isn’t most players. The 2025 Roland-Garros crowd got a quick jolt before Gauff’s match against Olivia Gadecki when the American, heading onto court for her first round, dealt with a racquet issue that could have rattled anyone less composed. Instead, Gauff walked out determined, handled the pre-match drama, and dialed into her game to score a straightforward victory.

What exactly happened? Just minutes before her match, Gauff noticed something was off with her main racquet. Whether it was string tension or a last-moment equipment malfunction, she spent several tense moments consulting with her team courtside. With the clock ticking, she had to make a quick call, switching to a backup racquet—never the ideal scenario for any player right ahead of a Grand Slam clash. But if Gauff was rattled, she didn’t show it once the umpire called, “Time.”

A Composed Start Sets the Tone for the Tournament

Gauff stepped onto Court Philippe-Chatrier with a clear game plan despite the earlier hiccup. From the opening games, she held serve comfortably, using her sharp movement and trademark backhand to keep Gadecki pinned behind the baseline. Gadecki, an exciting young talent herself, threw in some aggressive shots and tried to unsettle the world number three. But time and again, Gauff’s power and confidence on clay made the difference.

The American was especially strong in the longer rallies, mixing deep groundstrokes with well-timed drop shots—possibly a frame of mind sharpened by that pre-match disruption. By the midpoint of the first set, she was already dictating points and forcing errors from the Australian. Fans wondered if the equipment snafu would resurface in her head, but Gauff kept her focus, grabbing the first set without dropping serve.

Into the second set, Gauff never took her foot off the gas. She raced to an early break, making it clear she wasn’t going to entertain any upset. Though Gadecki pushed back with flashes of brilliance, Gauff’s first serve and confident net play snuffed out any momentum swings. The match wrapped up in straight sets, giving Gauff the start she needed in her pursuit of another deep French Open run.

After the match, Gauff spoke to media about the racquet saga. She admitted to being rattled for a short moment but credited her team for keeping her calm. Calling it a “classic tournament curveball,” she laughed it off, saying, “It’s never ideal, but I guess it’s all part of the adventure here.”

The win not only put Gauff safely into the second round but also showed her ability to adapt under pressure—a quality that could prove crucial in the title fight over the next two weeks. If you’re keeping track, she’s sending a message: even when things don’t start as planned, Coco Gauff is ready for what Roland-Garros has in store.