Rising tennis star Coco Gauff has added her voice to the growing chorus of players expressing frustration over the playing conditions at the Italian Open — most notably the tennis balls — echoing the sentiments of fellow pro Alexander Zverev, whose own criticism made headlines earlier in the tournament.
Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, reached her first-ever Italian Open final with a marathon victory over China’s Zheng Qinwen in the semifinals on Thursday. The match, lasting an exhausting three hours and 32 minutes, was the longest of her career. Gauff eventually triumphed in a tightly contested 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 battle, but after the final point was played, her focus quickly turned from celebration to the playing conditions — particularly the tennis balls.
“Honestly, the whole match for me the court was so slow,” Gauff admitted during her post-match press conference. “Especially when the ball — after like two games — gets so heavy.” Her remarks mirrored the complaints voiced by Alexander Zverev just days earlier, who was openly critical of the balls used during his quarter-final loss to Lorenzo Musetti.
While Gauff’s tone was measured, her frustration was evident. She noted that the slow court and the increasingly heavy balls turned the match into a physical grind, making it difficult for either player to hit through the other. “Today we were trying [to be aggressive], but the ball wasn’t going anywhere,” she said. “Yeah, the final I think is a little bit in the day, so hopefully it’s a little bit faster.”
The match against Zheng wasn’t the first time Gauff has gone the distance against the Chinese star. The two also faced off in a lengthy match during last year’s WTA Finals in Riyadh, though Gauff recalled that encounter being more aggressive and fluid compared to the sluggish affair in Rome. The American is hopeful that the conditions in the final, which will be played during the day, may offer a quicker court speed and allow her to unleash more of her attacking game.
Gauff will now face Italy’s own Jasmine Paolini in the final, marking a high-stakes rematch after Paolini defeated Gauff in Stuttgart and again in Rome’s doubles quarter-finals. For Gauff, the final presents not only a chance to claim her first Italian Open title but also an opportunity to flip the script against an opponent who has had the upper hand recently.
As for Zverev, his run in Rome ended earlier than expected after a straight-set loss to Musetti. The German, a former champion at the event, was visibly agitated during his match, directing his frustration at the tournament officials over the balls, which he felt gave an unfair advantage to defensive players.
With both Gauff and Zverev airing similar grievances, the debate around equipment standards and court conditions at premier events like the Italian Open is likely to intensify. For now, though, all eyes will be on Gauff as she prepares for what promises to be a thrilling final — and perhaps a more playable court.