THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 2, 2022

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

A. ANISIMOVA/C. Gauff

6-7, 6-2, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Coco, give us your thoughts on your match today.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, it was obviously a tough match for me today. Amanda played really well. I mean, there's a lot to learn from it, a lot I have to improve on for the next time. Overall I'm not too bummed about today. I got a mixed win, which is cool.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You've had an incredible spring in Europe. What sort of positives are you taking back to the hard court season? What are your best memories of the last couple months?

COCO GAUFF: Well, I think I've grown a lot in my mentality over this trip. I think that's the biggest thing that I'll learn on today.

I mean, I am disappointed but also at the same time I think I did what I could in that moment in the match. She played well. I mean, I played well at moments, and didn't play well in some moments. She was just the better player today.

So I think there's just a lot I think I have to improve on. I feel like I can get better. I feel like over this trip literally every single day I've gotten better, and that's all I can ask for.

Q. When you say you've improved a lot mentally this spring and summer, how would you describe what that is?

COCO GAUFF: Well, I mean, the start of the clay season there was matches, there was my first match of the clay season, I was up 4-0 and lost the set, kind of lost the match really because of mentality.

Today I was up 3-0 and went down a break. I was able to somehow find a way to win that set. For me, that just shows improvement in that aspect.

I mean, tennis, there's going to be days you play great. Like my second-round match, I think that's some of the best tennis I played -- well, I played good tennis at French, but I think it was the best tennis I played since French Open.

Today I think I just didn't play that well. I think that wasn't really anything to do with my head. There's days like that. I've just got to practice to make sure I have less days like that.

Q. How would you describe Amanda, and what potential do you think there is for a rivalry to develop with both of you?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, I don't know about the rivalry. I mean, for me it's weird to say that about myself because I'm just used to talking about it with other people. We have just rivalry in sport, so it's weird to say that about myself.

I guess, yeah, when you look back at it, it could be a thing. I mean, she's obviously a great player. I mean, she's not an easy player to play, especially on this surface. I think grass, she can do a lot of damage on. She's obviously good on clay. But I think grass is a good surface for her, especially the way she hits the ball, it's pretty flat. It's tough. Today was kind of windy so it was tough to time the ball for me.

Yeah, I think she has got a good shot of pretty much going all the way to the final. If she plays like she did those last two sets against me, I think that's some top-notch tennis right there.

Q. I'd like to ask you about your plans for the summer and what your philosophy will be about building up to the US Open.

COCO GAUFF: Well, I haven't really thought about that. Right now my hope is to do well, as good as I can, in mixed, not let Jack down on that part.

Yeah, I haven't thought about the summer really. I won't think about it until after this tournament is over.

Q. You're playing both singles and doubles in most slams and on the tour, even though many good top players stop playing doubles at some certain point. What is the biggest benefit for you to play both singles and doubles?

COCO GAUFF: Well, the people I looked up to, Serena and Venus, they have 14 Grand Slams in doubles. Those are the people I look up to, so I obviously try to model what they did. That's why I started playing doubles in slams.

Because I like playing doubles, too, that's why I also continue to. Physically if it was a problem for me, I would obviously stop doing it. But physically I'm never losing a match physically. I've never really walked on tour to a match and said I'm not feeling the best physically. Until that becomes a problem, then I'll stop.

Yeah, I think I love doubles and I'll keep playing it until I can.

Q. Was it hard to regroup today going out to the doubles match? Looked like you were having fun. What was it like playing with Jack today?

COCO GAUFF: I was really nervous to play with him just because he's really good. I didn't want to, like, mess up.

Recovering? I mean, right after the match I was so disappointed. Then I was, like, I'm still in mixed, I'm going to just have fun out there. I had a lot of fun. I was laughing, smiling on every point. With the intensity of singles and even doubles, it's not really often.

Yeah, for me it was kind of crazy to play with him. It was definitely a bucket list for me and I'm glad I was able to do that. I hope that we can keep winning.

Q. What would it be like if you have the opportunity to play against Venus Williams in the mixed?

COCO GAUFF: I honestly was kind of hoping we drew them first round because I think that would have been a good match.

Look, I mean, speaking statistically-wise you're not going to want to draw Venus first round in anything. That's not why I said that. I said that because I just want to share the court with her as many times as I can. Whether we won or lost, you can say you played against Venus Williams, one of the greats in singles and doubles, to be honest. I was kind of hoping we would play them.

If we both keep winning, it would end up happening. That would be pretty exciting. It would be a cool match and I hope that would happen.

Q. On the way from Court 3 to the locker room door, you're surrounded. You did 20 selfies, autographs. Is that fun?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, for sure in the tournament, tennis surrounding, yeah, I know that's what people come for. I don't mind doing it. I know I was that fan, so I try to take at least with the kids, I always try to sign them first. I know I can't get to everybody.

But, yeah, it's still fun for me. I enjoy just seeing the reactions. For me it's crazy that people get nervous to meet me 'cause I'm not -- well, I guess the way I watch myself on the court, I do look intimidating. Off the court I'm not intimidating, so I try to tell them, Just chill out. Let's have a conversation.

A lot of people tell me, I don't want to waste your time. I don't mind talking to people. I enjoy meeting people. I enjoy them telling stories. It means a lot to me as a player to know that people support me win or lose. That's what I look forward to the most, especially after I lost my singles, it was nice to see people still so supportive of me. That's the thing that I enjoy doing.