Gauff, on the courts of Rome: "I have problems because it is very slow"

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Cori Gauff knew she was up against a tough opponent when she faced Victoria Mboko in the WTA Roma 2025 draw, so she didn't come out relaxed and was aware of the danger posed by the Canadian player who is just 18 years old. Mboko has similar elements to Gauff, although Gauff's breakthrough on the circuit was even earlier. However, she lost the first set 6-3. Gauff managed to turn it around with the aura of a champion on her side, as from the second set onward, she showed no cracks and turned the score around with 6-2 and 6-1.

The Mutua Madrid Open was a very positive tournament for Cori Gauff on clay courts, as the Atlanta player reached the final where she stood her ground against the unstoppable Aryna Sabalenka, while along the way, she delivered performances of great authority like the one she had against Mirra Andreeva (7-5 6-1) or against Iga Swiatek, who was defending the title (6-1 6-1). In the third round of WTA Roma 2025, Gauff discussed some interesting aspects about the courts in a press conference and also talked about the election of the new Pope, León XIV.

- A Historic Event While in Rome

León XIV was chosen in a conclave that lasted just two days, and despite not being Catholic, Gauff was excited to have experienced that moment in Rome itself: "My physiotherapist is Catholic, and he told me it was very unlikely that there would ever be an American Pope in history. When I found out he was, I screamed. I felt like I was at the Olympics or something similar," exclaimed Coco, who wished that Prevost would get to know her: "I've seen he likes tennis. I hope he likes women's tennis because then he'll know who I am."

- About Mboko

"I saw her play for the first time at the Miami Open. I hardly knew anything about her before, but I've been following her, and she's a good player, and I knew it was going to be tough. She's playing at a great level despite her ranking (156), and maybe I wasn't entirely focused in the first set. At times, I felt like I was playing against myself because of the moves she made. I don't mean she's like me, but in terms of movements on the court, she has. Athletically, she seems to me one of the best players on the entire circuit."

- Very Slow Conditions

The difference between the court at the Mutua Madrid Open and the Foro Itálico is very noticeable, as the ball speed is much slower in Rome due to the altitude: "I've hardly had time to practice because I came directly from Madrid, but the court is very slow. In the next match, I'll be more tense and feel better, but I had problems today because of the slow ball speed. I felt it was impossible to hit a winner", emphasized the American, who will face Magda Linette, seed number 32, in the third round of the tournament on Sunday, the 11th.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gauff, sobre las pistas de Roma: "Tengo problemas porque es muy lenta"