Coco Gauff began her Roland Garros title defense in dominant fashion, defeating fellow American Taylor Townsend 6-4 6-0, but it was an unusual courtside detail that sparked conversation among tennis fans. During the match, the world No. 4 was seen storing her racquets in a refrigerator on the court. So what was the science behind the tactic?
On a hot spring day in Paris, Gauff took extra measures to keep the feel of her Head racquets consistent by cooling them between use. Former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki later explained the reasoning behind the move in response to an Instagram post shared by an Australian tennis content creator.
“String tension changes with different weather,” Lisicki wrote. “When it’s hot, tension tends to drop quicker than usual. The racquet bags are always in direct sun, so she wanted to be extra safe and put them in the fridge… I wonder how it feels when you take it out and play with it right away. I never tried it.”
Calor, nivel:
Coco Gauff guardando las raquetas en la cámara frigorífica 🤣#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/AUiNS8lVNL
— Eurosport.es (@Eurosport_ES) May 26, 2026
Higher temperatures can soften racquet strings and reduce tension more quickly, which may slightly alter control and ball response. By keeping the racquets cool, players can help maintain more consistent string performance during matches played in the heat.
Gauff, seeded fourth at Roland Garros this year, also revealed after the match that she had been involved in a minor car accident on her way to the stadium after her vehicle bumped into a pole, causing her juice to spill inside the car. Fortunately, nobody was hurt and the incident did not affect her performance on court.
The 2025 Roland Garros champion will next face Egypt’s Mayar Sherif in the second round on Thursday.