Coco Gauff has arrived in Paris ahead of the start of Roland Garros, where she will defend her title as the reigning champion. The American came to the French capital with her mother, Candi Gauff, and the two had a viral moment that quickly spread on social media.
During a stroll through the city, Candi stopped Coco to take photos next to posters promoting the tournament. One of the images in Paris featured Gauff in the foreground as the winner of the previous edition.
The 22-year-old athlete posted the moment on social media and joked about the situation. Coco appeared visibly embarrassed as she posed next to her own poster, pointing at the image at her mother’s insistence.
In jest, Gauff said that when traveling with her mother, she is “forced” to take photos next to every image of herself displayed around the city.
The moment came just days before the start of the 2026 French Open, scheduled to begin on May 24. Gauff will attempt to win her second consecutive title at Roland Garros, having defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the final last year.
Recent Successes
Gauff has had a strong season so far, with impressive performances at Stuttgart and Madrid. She reached the final at Rome, where she lost in three sets to Elina Svitolina. She also eliminated Sorana Cîrstea in the semifinals.
Approach to Roland Garros
In the lead-up to Roland Garros, Gauff has stated that she does not view the tournament as an obligation to “defend” her title. The athlete prefers to treat the competition like any other and focuses on the opportunity to win again.
Gauff humorously compared herself to Rafael Nadal, saying she cannot approach the tournament with the mindset of defending her title every year like the 14-time champion at Paris. “It has been a difficult week. I am happy for the victory, that I won in two sets, to return to the final. The first rounds were very tough, I was one step away from being eliminated. In these conditions, I am very happy to have made it to the final,” Gauff said in an interview right after her match with Sorana Cîrstea.
Coco Gauff's viral moment with her mom is hilarious, but can she bring the same energy to the court? She's got the talent, but the pressure's on to defend that title again at Roland Garros!