Coco Gauff’s complex clay court affair and her ‘Walmart version of Rafa’ forehand

April 24, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

As reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff prepares for her return to Roland Garros later this month, the 20-year-old American openly admits to a complex relationship with the very surface that has defined many of her career milestones. Despite her significant success on the red dirt, Gauff harbors a personal dislike for clay, citing practical inconveniences that temper her appreciation for its role in her career.

A complicated affair with clay

Speaking to BBC Sport, quoted by Tennishead ahead of her opening-round match in Madrid, Gauff likened her feelings about clay to a relationship that, despite being good, just isn't quite right. "You know, if you have a guy, and they just treat you good, and they do everything right, but it’s still, like, just not there. That’s how I feel about clay," Gauff explained. "Like, I have great results on Clay. I do well on clay, but my socks get dirty, like, I have to take off my shoes before I get in my room. It’s just a lot of things that I also don’t like about it, but my career has, on clay, always been the first of everything. Junior title there, my first Grand final, my first doubles Grand Slam. So it’s just one of those things, you know, maybe nice guys finish last [laughs]." Her career on clay has indeed been marked by firsts, such as her junior title, her first Grand Slam final aswell as her first doubles Grand Slam

Emulating the 'King of Clay'

Despite her personal gripes, Gauff holds immense respect for clay-court mastery, particularly that of Rafael Nadal. Earlier this month at the Stuttgart Open, she declared Nadal "the greatest clay court player." Gauff has even attempted to integrate elements of Nadal's legendary clay-court game into her own, specifically focusing on her forehand. "I don’t quite play like him but I do try to hit my forehand like he does on clay," she revealed, adding a self-deprecating comparison. "I don’t run around as much because my forehand isn’t as good as Rafa. But I do try to hit it like him." She humorously described her efforts as "Like a Walmart version of Rafa," quickly clarifying that she meant "a lesser version of Rafa" to avoid being "obliterated online."

Refining her game for the red dirt

Gauff's natural attributes, including her speed and work rate, are well-suited for clay courts, providing a strong foundation for her game on the surface. She has also been actively working on improving her serve, an area that, alongside her forehand, has seen its challenges. As the French Open approaches, Gauff will undoubtedly be a player to watch, aiming to defend her title despite her love-hate relationship with the clay beneath her feet. Sources: tennishead.net, BBC Sport