Surface tension for players too green for grass with Wimbledon on the horizon

Coco Gauff attempts to get to grips with the grass at Eastbourne in a practice session. Photograph: Dave Shopland/Shutterstock

Moments after Coco Gauff had won her first match at the Eastbourne International and departed from Centre Court, she quickly reappeared on the practice courts nearby. After already spending over an hour in the heat of competition, Gauff began working through another training session.

With Eastbourne’s courts situated a stone’s throw from the sea, the windy conditions were tough and Gauff wanted extra time to feel the ball on her strings. But her reasons for getting back on court so quickly also reflected the reality of this fleeting grass season, which is only three weeks long prior to the start of Wimbledon, meaning every second spent on the surface counts.