MADRID — Coco Gauff had a strong start to the year, helping her American team secure the United Cup title and winning nine out of her first ten matches in Australia.
Since that strong start, her record has been a more moderate 5-5, but on Tuesday, she expressed optimism that significant positive momentum could be just one match away.
“I always thought I was the kind of person who needed matches to build confidence,” Gauff said at the Mutua Madrid Open. “But many of my best results came unexpectedly, without having played many strong matches beforehand. So, I began to believe that you can turn things around in any given week – but just as quickly as you go on a winning streak, you can also experience losses.”
“Therefore, I`m approaching each tournament with a fresh perspective and a new mindset.”
Gauff and several other top seeds met with the media on Tuesday. The 32 seeded players all received byes. First-round play continues Wednesday, with second-round matches scheduled for Thursday (bottom half of the draw) and Friday (top half).
Here are some additional points as the tournament progresses towards more competitive rounds at the famous La Caja Magica:
Player Perspectives
Paolini: Embracing Technology
One charmingly old-fashioned aspect of tennis, particularly on clay, is when the chair umpire descends to carefully inspect the ball mark. However, in the modern era of technology, this tradition is gradually disappearing.
The ATP Tour has adopted electronic line calling for all of its red clay events this year, aligning with a broader trend. The Australian Open and US Open implemented electronic calling in 2021, and Wimbledon will follow suit later this summer. The notable exception is Roland Garros.
On Tuesday, Jasmine Paolini – a finalist last year at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon – stated her preference for the electronic monitoring system in place at the Mutua Madrid Open.
“I understand that sometimes it might be slightly inaccurate, maybe by one or two millimeters,” Paolini said. “But at the same time, I recall what happened to Jannik Sinner last year in Monte Carlo. The ball was out, and he didn’t realize it. A human, an umpire, can make mistakes.”
“With the electronic system, everyone is treated equally, and there are no disputed points. I believe that is more fair.”
Superseding Superstitions
Mirra Andreeva admitted to sometimes feeling conflicted.
“Some days,” she said, “I feel like I need to sit on the left chair from the umpire because, ‘OK, I’m going to play better because of this.’ And sometimes those small thoughts enter my mind. Like, ‘Maybe I should place my water bottle like this, or perhaps I should use the same ball I won the previous point with.’”
“But I’m trying to avoid paying attention to that – to focus on playing tennis on the court and not dwell on those superstitions.”
Picking Desired Traits
Players were asked which traits from other competitors they would wish to possess.
“I would like to have volleys like Roger Federer,” Andreeva responded. “And physical abilities like Carlos Alcaraz.”
A reporter laughed, adding, “I would too.”
Paolini had a single request: “A faster serve, definitely.”
Meanwhile, Gauff shared a very specific wish list:
“Probably Ons [Jabeur’s] touch,” she said, referring to her skilled hands. “She has very good hands. A drop shot is something I wish I could play more often, but I’m not always the best at executing it.”
“For me, the most frustrating part is sometimes missing it and thinking, ‘I probably should have just hit a normal shot.’ But then, if you make it, it feels amazing, like, ‘Wow. I’m the greatest player on earth.’”
Key Statistics
- The last two finals at the Mutua Madrid Open featured the WTA’s Nos. 1 and 2 players – Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. This tournament could mark the first time since 2009 that this occurs in three consecutive years at a WTA 1000 event.
- Since the current format was introduced, Swiatek could become the first player to win the same WTA 1000 clay tournament three years in a row.
- Victoria Azarenka is participating in her 100th WTA 1000 main draw, becoming the third player since 2009 to reach 100-plus main draws in WTA 1000 events, alongside Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (114) and Petra Kvitova (105). All three are competing this year.
Insights on the Top 5 Seeds
No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka: She is coming off a disappointing final loss in Stuttgart (6-4, 6-1 to Jelena Ostapenko). The positive for Sabalenka is that her two clay titles have both come in Madrid, where the altitude speeds up the court and enhances her powerful game.
No. 2 Iga Swiatek: Among players with at least five matches at this event since 2009, Serena Williams holds the highest win percentage in Madrid (20-3, .870), while Swiatek has the best record among currently active players (13-2, .867). Swiatek’s last three tournaments included losses to teenagers Mirra Andreeva (Indian Wells) and Alexandra Eala (Miami), and a quarterfinal defeat to Jelena Ostapenko in Stuttgart.
No. 3 Jessica Pegula: Enjoying an impressive stretch with 11 wins in her last 13 matches. Pegula reached the final in Miami, won the Credit One Charleston Open title, and was a quarterfinalist in Stuttgart.
No. 4 Coco Gauff: Started the year strongly, leading the United States to victory in the United Cup and holding a 14-6 record for the season. She won her first match in Stuttgart but lost in the second round to fellow Top 10 player Jasmine Paolini. Gauff reached the Round of 16 here last year but was defeated by fellow American …
No. 5 Madison Keys: Broke through by winning her first Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open. She has a 20-4 record this season, having split four matches across her two most recent events, Miami and Charleston.
Players to Watch
- Petra Kvitova has claimed the Mutua Madrid Open title three times (2011, 2015, and 2018). Since the event`s debut in 2009, she has played 42 matches and won 32 – more than any other woman in both categories. Her first-round match on Wednesday is against Katie Volynets.
- This is the first tour-level appearance for 19-year-old Filipina Alexandra Eala since her remarkable run to the semifinals in Miami. She is again a wild card entry in Madrid, and her 6-3, 6-2 victory over Viktoriya Tomova on Tuesday sets up an anticipated second-round rematch on Thursday against Swiatek.
- Paula Badosa. No Spanish player has reached the Madrid final since the event began in 2009. Badosa, who has been affected by two different back injuries, advanced furthest, reaching the semifinals in 2021. She stated on Tuesday that she plans to compete in her second-round match on Friday.
- Three women have won the Madrid title while ranked No. 1: Serena Williams (2013), Swiatek (2024 – note: Swiatek won in 2023 and is currently No. 1 in 2024, but the text refers to past winners), and Dinara Safina (2009). Safina is now on-site coaching No. 13 seed Diana Shnaider.
