Gauff reflects on her Madrid run: "I think having such a tough first round boosted my confidence"
A finalist in Madrid in recent days, Coco Gauff has rediscovered some of her rhythm. After a tricky start to the season, the American needed a match to find her footing (against Dayana Yastremska, whom she defeated 0-6, 6-2, 7-5) before cruising through to the final, where she fell to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
Before moving on to Rome and, of course, Roland-Garros, the world No. 3 attended a press conference and reflected on her strong performance in Spain.
"I’m really happy to be back in Rome. I hope to capitalize on this and have a better tournament than I did in Madrid. My parents were with me there, and that helped me in a way.
For me, it’s essential to connect with people. I love being in Europe—it’s not the same as for other Americans, but for me, it’s not a burden. Obviously, everything is more fun when you’re winning than when you’re losing. Going deeper in tournaments helps you stay motivated.
I struggled at times, and I think having such a tough first round actually boosted my confidence. She was playing well—her ranking didn’t reflect her true level. We all know Dayana (Yastremska) can compete with the top five players in the world, and that’s how it felt when I faced her.
After that match, everything went pretty smoothly until the final. I’ve learned that one match doesn’t define a tournament, so now I approach each match with a different perspective, a new mindset," she told *Punto De Break*.
For her opening match in Rome, Gauff will face either wild card Arianna Zucchini or a qualifier as she looks to reach the third round in the Italian capital.
Rome 
