Launch Party: Streaking Gauff Starts RG Title Defense Sweeping Townsend
By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Photo credit: Dan Istitene/Getty
Coco Gauff tamed a tennis tempest winning her maiden Roland Garros title last June.
Today, Gauff launched her title defense invoking transformative tennis against a familiar face.
Serving at 1-3, Gauff turned break point into spark point.
Streaking through 11 of the final 12 games, Gauff showed strong closing kick sweeping good friend Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-0 to power into the Roland Garros second round.
It is Gauff’s eighth straight win in Paris coming 11 months after she navigated a whipping wind and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 victory in the 2025 French Open final.
Seventy-years after tennis trailblazer Althea Gibson made history becoming the first African American Grand Slam champion by winning the French championships, long-time African American friends Gauff and Townsend squared off for just the second time a few days after they shared dinner together on Saturday night in Paris.
70 ans après, l’héritage d’Althea Gibson résonne toujours ✨
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2026
Une pionnière qui a marqué l’histoire du tennis, racontée par Billie Jean King.
À lire ⤵️#RolandGarros https://t.co/f31a9sC3QV
“It was super special,” Gauff told TNT Sports team of taking Court Philippe Chatrier on the 70th anniversary of Gibson’s major achievement. “I knew going on court that was the anniversary today.
“It was super fitting for Taylor and I to be there. We’re direct products of a legacy Althea Gibson [created]. It was really nice of them to do the video [tribute to Gibson].
“I feel lucky and grateful to be living the life I’m living today. I’m thankful for people like her paving the way.”On a sweltering day, Gauff said she didn’t want to make fans suffer through the heat of a three-setter.
“Honestly I felt more bad for the fans. I was like dang you guys are watching us play in this heat,” Gauff said. “It was kind of tough. I was hoping no one passed out.
“So I’m glad I was able to keep it short so we can keep everyone healthy.”
The Paris heat is nothing for Coco, shoutout Delray Beach 🏝️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/4Eif8WNkCO
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2026
Playing amid scorching 90-degree temperature—the hottest May 26th in Paris history—Gauff was pressing an ice bag to her face on changeovers. The Delray Beach-born baseliner said training in the sweltering Florida heat and humidity prepared her for Paris’ heat wave—and asserts it heightened the bounce on her kick serve.
Gauff served 61 percent, hit one ace against five double faults and grew stronger on serve as the match progressed. Gauff, who pumped a few 120 mph serves, won nine of 11 first-serve points in the second set.
Two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Townsend came out taking it to Gauff, curling her lefty forehand crosscourt and closing net at times.
Townsend turned her shoulders into a slick swing backhand volley winner converting her third break point to earn the opening break with a bang.
The left-handed Townsend slashed a 112 mph ace down the T to snatch a 3-1 lead.
Finding her range and rhythm as the set progressed, Gauff was grinding down her friend in longer baseline exchanges.
The two-time Grand Slam champion drew a miscue scoring her second straight break for a 5-3 lead.
Loosening her right arm, Gauff threw down a 120 mph serve to reach 30-all. Townsend worked her way forward for another backhand drive volley earning break point. Gauff erased it and saved three break points before banging an ace for set point.
A nervy Gauff jammed a double fault into the bottom of the net squandering set point. Court Chatrier fans groaned when Gauff dumped a second double fault to face her eighth break point of the set.
This time Townsend converted it cracking a sharp-angled crosscourt backhand strike to break back for 4-5.
Leaning into her two-hander, Gauff drew an error for her third set point in the 10th game. When Townsend looped a forehand long, Gauff broke to seal the 53-minute opening set.
The Rome runner-up stamped a love hold to start the second set.
Townsend tripped her second double fault off the tape as Gauff gained her fourth break for a 2-0 lead.
Speed and stamina are essential elements of Gauff’s game.
Despite her well-documented serving ups and downs, Gauff can be a convincing closer when confident. She showed that today powering through nine straight games to advance in 81 minutes.
Next up for Gauff is a second-round clash vs. 129th-ranked Egyptian qualifier Mayar Sharif, who rode her heavy topspin forehand to her fourth win, including three in the qualifying tournament. Sharif is playing for her first Roland Garros third-round appearance.
It was a good day for American women.
No. 17-seeded Iva Jovic defeated Philippine phenom Alexandra Eala 6-4, 6-2 and will face compatriot Emma Navarro in a second-round blockbuster.
Empowered by her run to the Strasbourg championship on Saturday, a red-hot Navarro scored her sixth straight win defeating Janice Tjen 6-4, 6-3 in her opener.
Navarro out-dueled Jovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in the Strasbourg second round last week.
No. 30-seeded Ann Li made a fast start dismissing veteran Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-2.
Post Comment