Reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff has returned to the prestigious tournament to defend her title, facing off in the first round on Tuesday against fellow American player Taylor Townsend at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris. Naturally, Gauff was ready to play with her signature New Balance tennis shoes on her feet.
Coco Gauff plays a backhand return to Taylor Townsend during their women’s singles match during the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26.
Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP
Gauff laced up her New Balance Coco CG2 sneakers — her second signature shoe with the Boston-based athletic brand she first partnered with in 2018 when she was only 14. Evolving from the debut signature model, the CG2 features an unconventional mid-cut silhouette to shake things up. It also includes a dual-density FuelCell midsole equipped with a carbon fiber plate — offering comfort, the feeling of energy return, and stability. To match her mauve New Balance tennis kit, Gauff opted for a gray, white and pink colorway of the shoe.
Coco Gauff plays a backhand return to Taylor Townsend during their women’s singles match during the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 26.
Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images
Gauff’s CG2 was released in August 2024, following the launch of the first signature shoe in August 2022. The athlete’s long-term relationship with New Balance has also overlapped into a collaboration with Miu Miu, which earned the Footwear News Achievement Award for Collaboration of the Year in 2025.
When presenting the brands with the award at the event, she said as part of her remarks, “I am so lucky to have been able to work closely with both of these brands individually and also collectively. So thank you to New Balance and Miu Miu for allowing me to be a small part of their vision.”
Meanwhile, Guaff was honored as Style Influencer of the Year.
Coco Gauff serves during a practice session prior to the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros on May 21 in Paris.
Franco Arland/Getty Images
