"Trying to learn from the best" says Coco Gauff as she watches Rafael Nadal practice
ATP & WTA
Rafael Nadal's practice session at the Italian Open on Sunday was watched by a packed stadium at the Foro Italico, and one of those was American teenage star Coco Gauff.
When the Spaniard arrived in Madrid for his first event since returning from injury, he was greeted by a full house for his first practice. That was to be expected, as Nadal is a native of Spain and drew huge crowd numbers there.
However, Italy is also like his second home, especially the city of Rome, where Nadal has reigned supreme on ten occasions. Last year, he defeated arch-rival Novak Djokovic in three sets in the final.
For Nadal, Rome is usually a very important stop every year as it is one of three ATP Masters 1000s on the calendar that is played on clay, a surface that shaped the 21-time Grand Slam champion's legacy.
Additionally, getting some much-needed momentum is paramount to doing well at Roland Garros, which explains why Nadal is always keen to hit peak form at the event.
He sharpened his arsenal as thousands of exuberant Italian fans watched on. WTA star Coco Gauff was also in attendance. Nadal shared footage of his practice on Instagram, writing in Italian, "Vamos Roma, Ci siamo."
After the young American saw the video, she shared it in her stories, saying, "I'm Trying to learn from the best." She did not hide from the fact that Nadal is a player she loves watching and has, for almost two decades, been the yardstick when it comes to clay-court excellence.
Nadal will face the winner of the match between John Isner and a qualifier in the second round, as he has a difficult path to the title in Rome. On the other hand, Coco Gauff will start her tournament already in the first round, facing former world number one Angelique Kerber.
