The American former runner-up grinned sheepishly and showed her empty bag as her entourage scampered to supply her with her equipment after discovering she had left the rackets in the changing rooms ahead of the midday clash.
The Madrid and Rome finalist made up for the short delay by powering through the opening three games and bagged the first set with a battling hold after dropping her service earlier.
"Honestly, I thought they put the rackets in the bag, and my side court bag is filled with drinks and everything," Gauff told Sloane Stephens on TNT.
"So it felt like I had enough weight. Then I got on court, and I opened the first zipper. I was like, 'OK, no rackets'. The second zipper ... 'Oh my God. I went on court with no racquets'. Usually JC (coach Jean-Christophe Faurel) puts them in.
"I'll see what happened."
There was no looking back from there as Gauff tightened her grip on the match despite the blustery conditions and closed out a comfortable victory.
