“I thought he would be a perfect person to help me during this time” – Gauff on working with Mouratoglou for the clay season

American Coco Gauff, who reached the final of Roland-Garros 12 months ago, has been working with French coach Patrick Mouratoglou during the clay season as she continues her search for a full-time coach.

The 19-year-old split with coach Diego Moyano in early April and while her search for his replacement continues, she has been working with Mouratgolou, someone whom she knows since she was 10 years old.

“We started after Madrid, and it was just through the clay season he’s helping me out. I’m going in between coaches, to be honest,” Gauff told the media in Paris on Media Day. “I haven’t really found a full-time coach, I guess. Obviously, he’s still with Holger (Rune). But I have a great relationship with Patrick. I have known him since I was 10 years old and obviously been on the court with him before. I thought he would be a perfect person to help me during this time. I’m looking forward to the next two weeks with him.”

“Right now, I feel like my forehand is a strength on clay” – Coco Gauff

Gauff, whose forehand has come under the scanner several times, said that she is continuing to work to improve that stroke but feels that her forehand is a weapon for her on clay.

“Obviously the forehand is something that I have to improve on, but on clay especially I feel like it’s one of my weapons. Last year, I won a lot of points using that heavy forehand, and I think that that’s something I continue to do this year,” the current world No 6 said.

“Right now, I feel like my forehand is a strength on clay. In all my practice matches, obviously I have the
advantage. I know where they’re going to play me, which is a lot, as some players don’t know that. I know exactly what they’re going to do and now it’s all about executing it. So, I guess in a way I’m using it more as a strength. Obviously, it’s something I need to work on, but I have to work on everything. My last match I think I honestly hit my forehand well. I think the backhand was the problem in my last match. I wouldn’t say “the” backhand but a lot of mistakes on that side. So it’s something that I’m working on, and we’ll see. I feel pretty confident going into this tournament regardless of how other people view my game. But none of that matters when I step on the court.”

Now aged 19 and transitioning into an adult, Gauff, who had a mediocre 3-3 win-loss record on clay this year, said she needs to take more ownership of her game in order to take it to the next level.

“I’m used to being told what to do and I just do it. So, I guess now I’m trying to find, and I think Patrick and in previous coaches want me to be more vocal about my game and about what I want to do. I’m just used to doing what I’m told. I think that’s what made me a good student in tennis, but obviously to make it to that next level I have to do the things.”

Gauff begins her 2023 French Open campaign against Swiss Rebeka Masarova in the first round.

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