Rafael Nadal’s farewell appearance at the Mutua Madrid Open was a poignant moment, marking the twilight of his illustrious career. Coco Gauff, a rising star in the tennis world, witnessed the tribute and was struck by the realization that Nadal’s time on tour is drawing to a close.
Gauff has long admired Nadal’s unwavering determination and intensity on the court. “He’s probably the only player that when I practice on the court next to him, I would literally zone out of my practice to watch him,” she said. “His mentality and intensity is something I admire.”
Beyond his on-court prowess, Gauff appreciates Nadal’s graciousness and humility. “He’s a very nice person,” she recalled. “I remember last year at Roland Garros, he touched me on the back and said, ‘Hi, good job.’ I didn’t respond like till 20 tiles already down the stairs because I couldn’t believe he spoke to me.”
As Gauff prepares for the upcoming French Open, she is focused on improving her consistency and reducing her double-fault count. “Last week, even though I lost 6-4 in the third, (I had) like 14 double-faults,” she said. “I feel if I’m still close in these matches against Madi, who is like a top player, I think I just fix that detail, it will save me and maybe those matches would turn into winning in straight sets instead of losing in three sets.”
Gauff’s journey at the Internazionali BNL D’italia begins against the winner of Magdalena Frech and Ashlyn Krueger. As she navigates the tournament, she will carry with her the inspiration and lessons learned from Rafael Nadal, a true legend of the sport.
