“The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is a first test”

Coco Gauff sees the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix as a challenging but valuable start to the clay court season. The 22-year-old stressed that the conditions on the indoor clay in the Porsche Arena are some of the most challenging on the WTA Tour, and therefore views Stuttgart as being a tough early test.

“The surface here is special, a little bit slippery, and then there’s the indoor component. It’s different for sure,” said the American. She does not feel automatically the most comfortable but nevertheless feels it has an upside as those getting off to a quick start can take a lot of confidence into the coming weeks.

Process instead of pressure of getting results

The reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff is consciously not targeting titles or ranking points at the start of the European clay court season. Decisive for her is to work together with her team on the strategy they have devised. “My goals are just to focus on the game plan, more than on results,” she said. She knows from previous experiences just how quickly extra pressure can ensue if the focus is on defending titles and gaining results.

As for Stuttgart, she expressed a level-headed goal even though she aims high at every tournament, no matter who is playing. However, in this phase it is less about immediate success but finding her form step by step en route to Paris. Her schedule containing Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome has been designed to be in top form for Roland Garros.

The fact that she has not yet produced her best performances in Stuttgart has in no way changed her positive opinion about the event. “This tournament treats me well. I like coming here,” she said. It is therefore the reason why she goes down the same path at the start of the clay court season.

Praise for Eva Lys

Coco Gauff spoke positively about Porsche Friend Eva Lys – the two have practiced together here in Stuttgart. The German was not only a wonderful person but also a very good player, she said. She has above all noticed just how close to the base line Lys plays and how cleanly she hits the ball. If she stays healthy and finds her rhythm, then the American feels she can move into the top of the rankings saying, “I think she can beat anyone on any given day.”