Coco Gauff made significant changes in preparation for transition to clay after poor start – “I think it was a good decision”
Following a rocky start to the 2025 season, Coco Gauff is determined to get back on track with some key changes to her clay court preparation.
The 21-year-old American, who captured her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open, has struggled to find consistency this year. After reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Gauff experienced several unexpected early exits in subsequent tournaments. Now, she’s eyeing a turnaround at the WTA Stuttgart Open, where she will face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini for a place in her first semifinal of the season.
Gauff, currently the tournament’s fourth seed, spoke after her opening-round win over Germany’s Ella Seidel, revealing a new approach to her clay court transition.
“Yeah, I was already on clay right after Miami, basically,” she said. “I got here early just because I felt like last year I maybe got here too late, but I also played on Wednesday last year.”
The Atlanta native emphasized the importance of having more time to adapt to the surface, especially given the indoor conditions in Stuttgart.
“I think this year I came a little bit early just to give myself more time to adjust to the clay and indoor conditions here, too. So, yeah, I think overall it was a good decision.”
As Gauff looks to rediscover her championship-winning form, her early adjustment to the clay season may prove to be a pivotal step toward regaining momentum ahead of the European swing and Roland Garros.
