Coco Gauff deserves to be in discussion for Americans most likely to make deep run at French Open, feels Jim Courier

Jim Courier, a former World No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion, believes that Coco Gauff has the potential to have a successful run at the 2023 French Open based on her excellent performance in the tournament's 2022 edition.

Gauff, at the age of 18, reached the final of the French Open in 2022, becoming the youngest woman since Maria Sharapova to reach a Grand Slam final. She faced Iga Swiatek in the final but suffered a straight-set defeat.

Courier shared his thoughts with Tennis Channel on the chances of American players making it big at the 2023 French Open.

“I feel Coco deserves to be in that discussion, given her run there last year. Obviously, she’s having some difficulties in that singles court right now that, hopefully, she can solve in Paris.”

“The doubles court has been a safe harbor for her to keep confidence. Hopefully, that will give her another good run in Paris,” said Roddick.

Courier is hopeful about Coco Gauff overcoming any difficulties she faces when playing singles matches when she heads to Paris. The doubles court has been a refuge for her confidence, and Gauff could end up having yet another excellent run at the French Open.

Coco Gauff hopes to be as successful as Rafael Nadal on clay as she gears up for the 2023 French Open

Internazionali BNL D'Italia 2023 - Day Eleven Coco Gauff (L) and Jessica Pegula of The United States (R) during their women's doubles semi-final match against Demi Schuurs of The Netherlands and Desirae Krawczyk of The United States at the 2023 Italian Open

Coco Gauff is optimistic about her prospects on clay, pointing to her 73% success rate on the surface. She hopes to improve her clay-court game even as she looks to emulate and attain Rafael Nadal's stature on the red dirt.

Nadal has an enviable record on clay and ranks first in the Open era for the highest match-winning percentage on clay, with a winning rate of 91.3% and a 474-45 win-loss record on his favorite surface. He has 81 consecutive wins on clay to his name, which is the longest streak of single-surface wins of the Open era.

One of the three titles in Coco Gauff's bag came on clay at the Emilia-Romagna Open in 2021. She made a clean sweep at the event, bagging the doubles title as well in the company of fellow American Caty McNally.

She has her best results at WTA 1000s and Grand Slams that were played on clay. Gauff made it to the Italian Open semi-finals in 2021 and the French Open final in 2022 before losing to Iga Swiatek.