Why US tennis star Coco Gauff keeps her racquets in a fridge

It has been a warm few days at the French Open...

Players competing in the Grand Slam tournament have experienced temperatures soaring well above 30°C, with the extreme conditions proving decisive in disrupting the title hopes of men’s top seed Jannik Sinner, who was shockingly eliminated by Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

It is thought the temperatures in Paris have also inspired Coco's surprising tactics.

Her fridge-based antics are thought to be based around a very clever application of science.

As explained by former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki, quoted here by HOLA, Gauff made use of the fridge to ensure her racquet maintained a good level of string tension throughout her opening match with Taylor Townsend.

Lisicki says: "String tension changes with different weather.

“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.”

Why does string tension matter?

String tension can determine how much control a tennis player has over their racquets, and the shots they play.

Tighter strings tend to offer more control, while looser ones can bring extra power.

Clay tournaments like the French Open tend to see longer rallies and heavy topspin, with players relying on constant and consistent precision within their shots, rather than sheer power, to come out on top.

The tactic seems to have worked out so far, with Gauff winning 6-4, 6-0 over Townsend, with the second (6-0) set having come about after she changed to a colder racquet.