'OK, no racquets...' - but Gauff makes serene progress

French Open 2025

Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros

Coverage: Live power commentaries crossed 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, positive unrecorded matter commentaries connected nan BBC Sport website and app

The look connected Coco Gauff's look said it each arsenic she walked retired connected tribunal to statesman her French Open title bid, only to observe she had forgotten 1 captious thing.

Her racquets.

The confused world number 2 quickly alerted her squad successful nan stands to nan situation, but managed to laughter disconnected nan mishap earlier going connected to underline her position arsenic 1 of nan pre-tournament favourites.

The 2023 US Open champion went connected to hit Australia's Olivia Gadecki 6-2 6-2 successful conscionable 71 minutes.

"The astir important point is to play pinch a racquet. So [after uncovering them] I was getting done nan first step," nan 21-year-old joked afterwards.

"After that, it astir apt relaxed maine going into nan match, because it was conscionable specified a funny thing.

"I'm conscionable happy to get done coming and I will retrieve my racquets for adjacent time."

Displaying her quiet container to her squad and showing them wherever her racquets should person been, Gauff was capable to laughter astir nan rumor pinch Gadecki earlier a shot kid delivered them.

"Honestly, I thought they put nan racquets successful nan bag. My broadside tribunal container is filled pinch drinks truthful it felt for illustration I had capable weight," Gauff told TNT Sports.

"Then I sewage connected court, and I opened nan first zipper. I was like, 'OK, nary racquets'. The 2nd zipper... 'Oh my God. I went connected tribunal pinch nary racquets'".

She added: "I made nosy of Frances [Tiafoe] for it successful Madrid but now I'll beryllium quiet.

"I americium blaming it connected my coach."

Earlier, Russian teen Mirra Andreeva thumps Cristina Bucsa to beforehand - contempt joking she did not for illustration her early greeting wake-up call.

The 18-year-old was first connected Court Suzanne Lenglen connected Tuesday morning, stepping retired astatine 11:00 section clip successful Paris.

Playing her first Grand Slam arsenic a top-10 seed, Andreeva recovered from a double break shortage successful nan first group to triumph 6-4 6-3.

"Honestly, it was very difficult," Andreeva said.

"I'm not really happy because I don't for illustration to aftermath up early."

Men's world number 11 Daniil Medvedev has besides complained astir early starts and joked he whitethorn "boycott" greeting matches.

However he did not fare arsenic good arsenic Andreeva, losing his greeting lucifer to Britain's Cameron Norrie successful a five-set epic.

Andreeva added: "I had to aftermath up astatine 6.40 and past I had 35 mins to battalion my bags and do everything.

"Then 25 minutes to person breakfast, 30 minutes to travel present and past I spent 11 minutes successful nan locker room and past we did nan warm-up and went connected court.

"It is very good planned."

Andreeva, who reached nan semi-finals astatine Roland Garros past year, will look Suzan Lamens of nan Netherlands next.

Elsewhere connected Tuesday, two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur suffered an early exit successful a 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 conclusion by Poland's Magdalena Frech.

American 3rd seed Jessica Pegula cruised into nan 2nd information pinch a 6-2 6-4 triumph against Romania's Anca Todoni.