US OPEN

September 6, 2022

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GARCIA/C. Gauff

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Great tournament, tough night. Your thoughts.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, for me today her level was great. I knew it was going to be great coming in. I feel I didn't play at the level I needed to to come out with the win today.

Overall I'm super proud of myself on this tournament. But I'm hungry for more. So maybe next year.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What thoughts do you have on what was lacking and what you think you need to improve on most?

COCO GAUFF: I think I had a lot of unforced errors today. I think I had a couple balls where I could have finished the point. Especially when she was coming to net, I missed a lot of passing shots when they were open.

I think I need to cut back on the unforced errors. Even that last game, finished with two balls in the net. I think I need to cut back on that. Especially when you're playing an aggressive player like Caroline, you can't make that many unforced errors.

Q. What do you feel like you've learned about managing Grand Slams?

COCO GAUFF: I think definitely I've learned the schedule and trying to get out of the site as quickly as possible is pretty important because the days kind of run the same, to be honest.

I guess I'll take this experience and I think for the most part when I learned is just to go for my shots. I think that is what I've done for the whole tournament. Today I was going for them, but they just weren't going in.

Q. Have you had a minute, a quiet moment, during the last nine, 10 days to reflect on everything that was going on, last week with Serena...

COCO GAUFF: Not really, to be honest. I mean, after the match, usually just go back and enjoy the win. The next day you have to go back and get ready for the next one.

But I think after this I'll have some time to reflect. I don't have any tournaments for a while, so I'll try to reflect on the season as a whole.

Q. You've beaten her the two previous times that you played. Can you talk about how she was different tonight.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think she hit a lot of big shots, especially a couple like forehand down the lines which I think I was hitting some good, deep balls. I knew that because she stands right on top of the baseline.

I mean, the previous times that I played her, I would say she's definitely striking the ball much better. Kudos to her and her team because I think she's gotten a lot better since the last time I played her.

I think overall it was a good level by her. I mean, like I said after the match, it was too good. That's all you can do sometimes.

Q. Looking ahead a little bit, today the WTA announced that the WTA Finals are going to Fort Worth, Texas. You're well positioned in both singles and doubles. What was your reaction to that? How much are you looking forward to making your debut?

COCO GAUFF: Well, I'm super happy it's in the States. I don't have to take a long trip anywhere (smiling).

But, yeah, I mean, if I qualify, it will be great. It's definitely one of the goals for the rest of the season, is to try to qualify for that. Definitely in a good position.

But I'm happy that the Finals is in the U.S. I get to play another home tournament. The rest of the my tournaments for the year will be in North America. That's pretty nice not to have to take long flights or layovers.

Q. You said you're proud of your tournament. What exactly are you proud of?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, I don't know. For me it's hard to balance being proud and being disappointed. So I think I'm learning more to not be so much disappointed in myself.

Really I'm just proud of how I was able to come through this week. After everything that happened in Cincinnati, I didn't tell anyone, but I didn't think it was going to be that good of a tournament for me.

I think it was good I was able to bounce back. I really proved to myself mentally that I can come out of these tough situations and do it.

First quarterfinal, too, at the US Open, so there's a lot to be proud of. But, like I said, definitely disappointed. I think it makes me want to work even harder. I feel like I know what I have to do.

Q. In terms of the offensive pressure that Caroline brings, it's a big unique at the moment. How tricky is it?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it's definitely tricky, especially when you're hitting good serves. I was hitting a couple 120s on the serve, the return was coming back faster. Usually you expect that to happen once or twice, but it was happening a lot with her today. That is why I kind of had to slow down the serve. I think that actually ended up working for me.

That started in the first set. It kind of got away from me. In the second set, I was there. Like I said, I made some unforced errors I shouldn't have made. But with her, she's playing some great tennis. I think playing matches like this will prepare me for the future.

Q. So often in majors you're making deep runs in doubles as well. Early exit there. How do you think that affected you? Did that change your day-to-day rhythm?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, yes and no. I've gotten used to playing doubles and singles, to be honest. It definitely did change, but I don't think it was a bad thing. Especially in New York, I feel like the traffic and everything, it definitely saved me some time from being on the site.

Also it's tough with the schedule when you and your partner play on different days. Usually I have to wait for Jess to finish her singles and then play. It saved me some time.

Pretty disappointed about the first-round loss. It was nice to have some extra time I guess in the hotel. Then again, I don't know if I liked it because it gave me more time to focus on singles, which is great.

For me it doesn't work when I think about the tournament all the time or at least the singles part of it. I kind of wish that we won, but that's okay (smiling).

Q. You mentioned the slow start tonight. Did you feel going into the match, at the warmup, that you were going to be able to play well? How much was it maybe your own play versus the way Caroline started?

COCO GAUFF: I think it was all her. I mean, today, the warmup, I had probably one of the best warmups I had this tournament. I was striking the ball really clean.

You play, you're playing someone off the bat, they're standing on top of the baseline and ripping balls, it's not easy. She has the type of game that you kind of have to adjust to because I feel like it's not hit-or-miss because she definitely makes more, but you're hitting a good serve, and sometimes you're not expecting the ball to come back as fast and as deep as she was hitting it.

I think it's really about her level of play. I don't really think I had too much of a slow start. Definitely in the first game I probably could have held. Other than that I think she played well, especially on her service games.

Q. There's a lot of black people who look up to you the way you looked up to Serena. What is your message to the black kids who are looking up to you now?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, for me, for any kid, but especially ones that look like me, I think for the most part, just continue to do what you want to do no matter what people say.

I think for me the Williams sisters definitely inspired me to play tennis because I saw someone like me playing in a sport with not a lot of people looking like me. I hope I can be that for other kids.

Yeah, that's all I can say really. Just continue to be our authentic self. Don't try to feed into any stereotypes, just be you.

Q. A question about strategy. You mentioned she came into the net. Didn't seem like you tried to lob. Hit some low shots. Could you talk about that a little bit.

COCO GAUFF: I mean, for me, like I said, I missed a lot of passing shots. Usually when you go to the net, you're not going to win all the net points unless the person is a bad volleyer, which she's not. We lost to her in doubles in the French Open.

I'm not really a lobber, to be honest, only when I have to. I had a lot of passing shots, and I just missed them. A couple on the lines. I don't remember which game, it was her game point. I had a backhand down the line and I missed it. That is normally a shot I don't miss.

Her day, she's playing really well.

Yeah, the lob, you just have to feel it out.