Coco Gauff involved in car crash on way to French Open with vehicle left ‘not drivable’

Coco Gauff was involved in a car accident on Tuesday as she travelled to the French Open.

The defending women’s singles champion was on her way to Roland Garros to take on fellow American tennis star Taylor Townsend in the first round.

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But in the ride to Stade Roland Garros, the vehicle she was in was involved in a collision with a pole.

“We kind of got into, like, a mini car accident on my way to the site today,” Gauff revealed.

“There was this pole, and it was supposed to go down, and then the police told [the driver] to go, and the pole was still there, so we ran into it.

“It was kind of, you know, you felt a little impact. I spilled my juice all over the car. I was like, ‘We can keep going,’ then I walk out the car, and the car was not drivable.

“So we ended up taking a taxi. But I feel like it’s a good omen maybe. Everything happening in my first round.”

But the bad luck didn’t stop there, as not only did the match begin earlier due to a previous match being cut short due to a player retirement, but Gauff also revealed that her dress got stuck, which saw her require some assistance.

“Right before I went onto court, my dress got stuck, so my physio was in the bathroom trying to help me take it off,” Gauff said.

“It was an eventful day. But I feel like whenever that happens, it lets you not think about the match too much. I’m just happy to be here in one piece.”

Gauff storms through to second round

Despite the setback to her preparations, and the associated stress that comes with being involved in an accident like that – no matter how small – Gauff rose to the challenge.

On Court Philippe-Chatrier she defeated her compatriot 6-4, 6-0.

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The win wasn’t as plain-sailing as the final result suggests, though, with the Paris heat appearing to cause some issues for the world No. 4, especially during the early stages of the contest.

At one point she trailed the world No. 75 1-3, and also found herself one point away from going down by a double break.

However, the 22-year-old found a way to flip a switch, and would go on to win nine of the next 10 games to complete a straight-set victory over Townsend and book her place in the second round.

Speaking after the match, she revealed that the heat – with temperatures having neared 100 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the course of the day – wasn’t too much of a factor as initially believed by some.

“I’m from Florida, so this is nothing, shoutout Delray Beach,” Gauff said. “The reason I was using the ice was because my physio before I went out on court she was like ‘please use the ice today’ because she knows I probably wouldn’t.

“Honestly I felt more bad for the fans I was like ‘dang you guys are watching us play in this heat’ I was hoping no one passed out – so I am glad I was able to keep it short.

While the first set lasted a gruelling hour, the second took just 24 minutes.

With the victory, Gauff has set up a second-round clash with Mayar Sherif after the Egyptian defeated Hungary’s Dalma Galfi 7-5, 6-4.

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