Coco Gauff is preparing for one of the biggest matches of the season, but ahead of the Rome Masters final, it was not her tennis that grabbed the most attention. Instead, the American star sparked major debate after openly questioning one of the sport’s oldest traditions: the scoring system.
Following her semifinal victory over Sorana Cirstea, Gauff was asked about the uniqueness of tennis scoring during her post-match press conference. Her response quickly began circulating online.
Gauff’s criticism of tennis
It goes from 15 to 30, but then it gets to 40. Why? It doesn’t make any sense to me.
The 22 year old admitted that the scoring system can sometimes feel confusing and even “brutal,” especially for new fans trying to understand the sport. Gauff explained that if she could change one thing, she would prefer a more logical progression, such as 1-2-3 or even 15-30-45 instead of the traditional system.
Gauff already owns Grand Slam titles, years of experience on the biggest stages and has become one of the most influential voices of the new generation of players. When she speaks now, people listen differently. Her game has evolved, and so have her confidence and mentality. She now feels secure enough to give these kinds of answers, stop worrying about criticism and openly say what she really thinks.
The origin of tennis scoring
The origins of the tennis scoring system date back several centuries and, while there is no universally confirmed explanation, the most accepted theory is that it came from the use of clocks in medieval France. Players were supposedly advancing the score following the quarters of a clock: 15, 30, 45 and then game.
Over time, 45 was shortened to 40, possibly to make it easier to announce and to leave room for the “deuce” system, where a player must win by two points. Even today, many historians admit the system is unusual and not entirely logical, which helps explain why Coco Gauff’s comments resonated so strongly with modern fans.
The timing of her comments is also notable because they come just days before the Rome Masters final against Elina Svitolina, after both players delivered impressive performances in the semifinals. Svitolina reached the final after defeating Iga Świątek in three sets.
For Gauff, the final represents another major opportunity to win one of the biggest clay-court titles outside of Roland Garros after finishing runner-up in Rome last year.
In the United States, the Rome Masters final will air live on Tennis Channel and through streaming services that carry the network, including YouTube TV and Fubo.
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