Gauff v Gadecki: Things we learned

Coach’s superstitions can prove costly

The start was momentarily delayed when the American’s rackets were nowhere to be seen.

Tiafoe ran into the same predicament during this year’s Indian Wells, which drew plenty of good-natured ridicule from good friend Gauff.

“The culprit is not in the box because he knows that my rackets are supposed to be in my bag,” Gauff laughed. “Honestly, as long as I've been on tour my coach has always put the rackets in the bag before the match because he's very superstitious.

“He likes to grip each racket new each day. I don't care, I can play with a dirty grip. So I go on the court and I realise I have no rackets and I literally just made fun of Frances for it in Madrid, but I'm blaming it on my coach, so it's okay.” 

Footwork key in blustery conditions

Racket crisis averted, Gauff was unperturbed and in just 15 minutes had opened up a double break on the world No.91.

Both were in for a testing outing on such a windswept day and the 21-year-old, one of the most revered movers among her rivals, handled the added challenge better.

The first set was in the bag in under 40 minutes and after an immediate break to open the second set, it followed a similar trajectory – the match was done and dusted in just 72 minutes.

Czech qualifier, 18-year-old Tereza Valentova, is next.

“For sure, mindset is first, I would say, and then the footwork is the most important,” Gauff said of the conditions. “Then, honestly, it's two different matches depending what side of the court you're on. I felt like on that side I had to really hit the ball to even get it past the service box.

“This side I felt if I barely touch the ball it would be a deep shot so honestly it felt like two different matches depending on the side of the court. I was just trying to play the way I played depending on which end of the court I was.”

Gadecki counts former champ as mentor

Gadecki showed glimpses of the form that took her past the likes of Danielle Collins to a maiden WTA 500 final in Guadalajara, Mexico last year.

Her heavy blows off the ground created a set-point-saving exchange to nail a backhand winner down the line at 2-5 in the opening set, while a pinpoint backhand lob winner, which forced Gauff to serve for the match, drew applause from the American.

Unfortunately for the 23-year-old Australian, they were moments too few and far between.

Having now made her debut at all majors, Gadecki was sure to learn from the experience and has no shortage of expert advice from current coach Nigel Sears, whose former charges include Amanda Coetzer, Daniela Hantuchova and Anette Kontaveit.

She has also trained with fellow Queenslander and former world No.1 Ash Barty – the 2019 champion – who has mentored her intermittently over the years.

US tennis in good hands post Serena

While Gauff has long carried the burden as the US heir most apparent since Serena Williams’ retirement, she was buoyed by compatriot Madison Keys’ Australian Open breakthrough in January and former doubles partner Jessica Pegula’s return to the top three.

“I think it means a lot to all of us,” she said. “I think we all root for each other … Just to have so many options for friends, so many options for practice, so many options for doubles, it's just nice. And I guess to be a part of that means a lot.

“With Serena, I think she's inspired so many to play tennis, including me. So she definitely has a lot of credit when it comes to just getting rackets into people's hands, and obviously the more rackets you get into people's hands the more chances you have for people to do great on tour.”