Atlanta-born tennis superstar Coco Gauff faced an unexpected scare before the start of her French Open title defense after being involved in a minor car accident on the way to Roland Garros in Paris. Gauff revealed after the match that the vehicle she was riding in struck a pole, leaving the car undrivable and forcing her team to take a taxi to the stadium. Despite the incident, the 2025 French Open champion was not injured and remained in good spirits about the situation.
The accident did not slow Gauff down once she stepped onto the court. The 22-year-old defeated fellow American Taylor Townsend in straight sets, 6-4 and 6-0, advancing to the second round of the tournament. Gauff admitted the chaotic start to her day may have actually helped calm her nerves heading into the match, joking afterward that the incident could have been a “good omen.”
Gauff continues to be one of the biggest stars in women’s tennis and remains a strong contender to repeat as French Open champion this year. The former Atlanta resident has already captured Grand Slam titles at the U.S. Open and French Open and is currently ranked among the top players in the world. Her ability to stay composed after the frightening accident quickly became one of the biggest storylines of the tournament’s opening round.
(Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
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