Coco Gauff explains which part of Rafael Nadal’s game she’s trying to use on clay
Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images Coco Gauff got her clay season off to a good start by beating Liudmila Samsonova in the first round of the Stuttgart Open. The American came through 7-5, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals at the WTA 500 event, as she prepares for her Roland Garros title defence later this year. Gauff won her second major at last year’s French Open, capping off a strong run on clay.
She also reached the finals in both Madrid and Rome before defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in Paris. Statistically, clay is Gauff‘s best surface, with a career win-rate of 75%, and the 22-year-old has started well on the dirt in 2026. Coco Gauff shares thoughts after Stuttgart Open victory Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images Speaking after her win over Samsonova, Gauff told reporters: “Yeah, I mean, I started off a little bit rough, had some break point opportunities in the first game, but yeah, happy to get through today.
“I never really have easy first-round matches here in Stuttgart, so I guess the trend continued a little bit today, but yeah, I’m happy to be in the next round. ” When asked about who she looks up to on clay courts, Gauff said: “I mean, the greatest clay court player is Rafa, but I don’t quite play like him. But I do try to hit my forehand like he does on clay.
“I don’t run around as much because my forehand isn’t as good as Rafa’s. But I try to hit like him. So I guess him.
And then it’s just me and him. “I don’t know. Like a Walmart version of Rafa.