MADRID — Coco Gauff began the year strongly, contributing to her American team`s United Cup victory and winning nine of her initial ten matches in Australia.
However, her performance since then has been more modest, with a 5-5 record. On Tuesday, she voiced hope that a crucial turn in momentum could be just one match off.
“I used to think I was someone who needed matches to build confidence,” Gauff commented at the Mutua Madrid Open. “But many of my best results happened unexpectedly, even without playing many previous matches well. This made me realize you can turn things around in any given week. Yet, just as easily as you can hit a winning streak, you can also experience losses.
Therefore, I`m approaching each tournament with a fresh viewpoint and attitude.”
Gauff and other top-ranked players spoke to the media on Tuesday. All 32 seeded participants receive a first-round bye. The initial round concludes on Wednesday, followed by second-round matches on Thursday (for the bottom half of the draw) and Friday (for the top half).
Additional points of interest as the competition intensifies at the renowned La Caja Magica:
Paolini Supports Electronic Line Calling
A charmingly traditional aspect of clay court tennis, increasingly rare in the technological era, is the sight of the chair umpire descending to inspect a ball mark on the red clay. Much like physical newspapers or cash payments, this practice is gradually disappearing.
The ATP Tour has implemented electronic line calling for all its red clay tournaments this year, aligning with a broader shift. The Australian Open and US Open adopted this technology in 2021, and Wimbledon will follow suit later this summer. The sole major tournament still relying on manual line calls on clay? Roland Garros (French Open).
Speaking on Tuesday, Jasmine Paolini, a finalist at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon last year, expressed her preference for the electronic system used here at the Mutua Madrid Open.
“I understand it might occasionally be inaccurate by a millimeter or two,” Paolini stated. “However, I also recall what happened to Jannik Sinner in Monte Carlo last year. The ball was out, but he didn`t notice. Humans and umpires are prone to errors.
“With electronic calling, everyone is treated equally, and there are no disputes about line calls leading to replayed points. I believe this makes the game fairer.”
Players Discuss Superstitions
Mirra Andreeva admitted she sometimes feels conflicted.
“Some days,” she confessed. “I feel compelled to sit on the chair to the umpire`s left, thinking `Okay, this will help me play better.` These small ideas sometimes enter my mind. For instance, `Perhaps I should arrange my water bottle this way,` or `Maybe I should use the same ball I won the previous point with.`”
“However, I actively try to ignore these thoughts,” she added. “My focus is on playing tennis on the court, not dwelling on superstitions.”
Player Wishlists: Borrowing Skills
Players were asked which skills or characteristics of fellow competitors they would ideally like to possess.
“I`d love to have volleys like Roger Federer`s,” Andreeva responded. “And the physical capabilities of Carlos Alcaraz.”
The reporter laughed in response, agreeing, “I would too.”
Paolini had a single specific request: “Definitely a faster serve.”
Gauff, on the other hand, presented a very detailed wishlist:
“Probably Ons Jabeur`s touch,” she commented. “She has incredible finesse with the ball. I`d like to use the drop shot more often, but sometimes my execution isn`t the best.
“It`s frustrating when you miss one and think `I really should have made that.` But when you land it perfectly, the feeling is amazing, like `Wow, I`m the best player on the planet.`”
Key Statistics and Records
- The last two Mutua Madrid Open finals featured the WTA`s top two players, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. A repeat this year would mark the first time since 2009 this has occurred for three straight years at a WTA 1000 event.
- Should she win, Swiatek would be the first player since the WTA 1000 format began to clinch the same clay court tournament three consecutive times.
- Victoria Azarenka is competing in her 100th WTA 1000 main draw event. Since 2009, only two other players have reached this milestone: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (114) and Petra Kvitova (105). All three are participating in this year`s tournament.
Updates on the Top 5 Seeds
No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka: Sabalenka recently lost in the Stuttgart final with a 6-4, 6-1 score against Jelena Ostapenko. However, she has a strong record in Madrid, having won two clay titles here. The altitude in Madrid accelerates play, which benefits her powerful game.
No. 2 Iga Swiatek: Among players with at least five matches in Madrid since 2009, Serena Williams holds the highest win percentage (20-3, .870). Swiatek boasts the best record among current players (13-2, .867). Swiatek`s recent results include losses to teenagers Mirra Andreeva (Indian Wells) and Alexandra Eala (Miami), and a quarterfinal exit against Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart.
No. 3 Jessica Pegula: Pegula is currently on an impressive run, winning 11 of her last 13 matches. Her recent results include reaching the final in Miami, winning the Credit One Charleston Open, and making the quarterfinals in Stuttgart.
No. 4 Coco Gauff: Gauff had a fantastic start to the year, leading the U.S. team to victory at the United Cup and holding a 14-6 season record so far. In Stuttgart, she won her opening match but lost in the second round to fellow Top 10 player Jasmine Paolini. Last year in Madrid, Gauff reached the Round of 16 before losing to a fellow American player.
No. 5 Madison Keys: Keys has had a solid start to the year, currently holding a 20-4 record. She split her four matches across her two most recent events in Miami and Charleston.
Other Players to Watch
- Petra Kvitova is a three-time champion of the Mutua Madrid Open (2011, 2015, 2018). Since the tournament began in 2009, she leads all women in both matches played (42) and matches won (32). Her first-round match on Wednesday is against Katie Volynets.
- This tournament marks the first tour-level appearance for 19-year-old Alexandra Eala of the Philippines since her impressive semifinal run in Miami. She enters Madrid as a wild card. Her 6-3, 6-2 victory over Viktoriya Tomova on Tuesday sets up an interesting second-round encounter on Thursday against Iga Swiatek.
- Paula Badosa is a player to watch. Since the tournament`s start in 2009, no Spanish woman has reached the Madrid final. Badosa came closest, reaching the semifinals in 2021. Plagued by two separate back injuries, she confirmed on Tuesday that she is ready to compete in her second-round match on Friday.
- Three women have won the Madrid title while ranked world No. 1: Serena Williams (2013), Iga Swiatek (2023), and Dinara Safina (2009). Safina is currently at the tournament, coaching the No. 13 seed, Diana Shnaider.
