US OPEN

August 26, 2022

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Coco, your thoughts on this year's US Open and being back in New York.

COCO GAUFF: Super excited to be back here in New York. Always enjoy. My favorite Grand Slam to come to. Always happy memories here. Hopefully I can make some even more great memories here.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. When you talk to some young players, particularly female players, they say Serena showed me how to use my voice, how to be strong, independent. When you consider her legacy, what she meant to you personally and professionally, what part of her legacy is most important to you?

COCO GAUFF: I think really just the way she was able to transcribe [sic] in a sport that's predominantly white. I think that's something that as a little girl and even now meant a lot to me.

Especially, like, growing up, before I was born, there wasn't many. Before Serena came along, there was not really an icon of the sport that looked like me. So growing up I never thought that I was different because the No. 1 player in the world was somebody who looked like me. I think that's the biggest thing that I can take from what I've learned from Serena.

Then also on a more personal level, I got to have a couple conversations with her later on in life. I think it's just the way that she handles herself. She never puts herself down. I love that she always elevates herself.

Sometimes being a woman, a black woman in the world, you kind of settle for less. I feel like Serena taught me that, from watching her. She never settled for less. I can't remember a moment in her career or life that she settled for less.

I think that's something I took from. As a person, I'm growing into being an adult and learning how to handle things now with the media and tennis and everything, I'm trying to learn to not settle for less.

Q. Outside of her legacy as someone who has inspired so many different young girls to pick up a tennis racquet who never saw themselves in that way, the longevity she's had in her career, how impressive is that from your viewpoint?

COCO GAUFF: Really impressive. She won her first US Open years before I was born. I have seen her career my whole life. But part of it I didn't see. I missed a lot of it. Even at that point, it seemed super long.

I think it's hard to dominate for generations. She showed that, but that's why for me, like, she's always going to be considered the G.O.A.T. She didn't dominate one generation. She didn't dominate for two generations. She dominated for three-plus generations. I don't think anybody else did that.

That's why it's sad to see her leave, but also at the same time she's going to do completely a bunch of amazing things off the court.

She's in the fashion world. I saw her model, walk the runway of a show. We're going to see a lot of Serena later on.

Q. At what age did you actually meet Serena? What is your relationship now? Do you have a relationship with her here and there? Did you see the movie about her father?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, so I first met Serena, she definitely doesn't know this, I think I was 9 or 10 years old. They needed a stunt double to play a young version of her just the face down. I think it was for a Delta commercial. I don't think they ever used it, but that was, like, my first check I ever got as a kid (laughter). She doesn't know this, but the first money I ever made for myself was because of her doing a commercial (laughter).

I met her. I stopped by her trailer, took a picture. She probably doesn't even know. My mom actually sent me a picture, like, a couple weeks ago of me waiting, getting my hair done by the people.

Yeah, what was your other question?

Q. Your relationship.

COCO GAUFF: Our relationship, yeah.

I mean, I don't speak to her all the time. We're completely two different ages. When I do see her at the tournaments, yeah, I speak to her a little bit. Because of the way tournaments are, one of us is going to practice, one of us is finishing a match. I don't really get to have that many conversations with her.

Yeah, when I do see her, obviously, Hello, how are you?

Q. You did see the movie?

COCO GAUFF: Yes, I did.

Q. What were your thoughts?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, it wasn't an amazing movie. It won an Oscar, a couple. I don't know how many. Yeah, it was a great movie.

I knew the story, to be honest, already beforehand. It was cool to see it on video. You hear things from ear to ear and seeing all that stuff in the movie.

I'm sure she's going to have something else coming out. I mean, that was just the younger version. I'm sure there's going to be a whole 'nother movie about her. At least I hope so. I would love to see that.

Q. Did you film that in Florida?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, Palm Beach Gardens.

Q. Will you be in that movie then?

COCO GAUFF: Well, no (laughter). No, no, no. There's no movie confirmed. Don't say that. You guys are going to get me in trouble. There's no movie (laughter).

I'm just saying, I'm assuming there's going to be... C'mon, there has to be another one. I hope so. If there was, no, I probably won't be in it. I would love to go to the premier.

If there is a movie, Serena, hit me up, please. Thank you (smiling).

Q. Leylah was saying earlier regarding the ball, We used to play with whatever we had, we were fine with it. Now that you're older, do you go back to that, whatever is here I'm going to hit it, or is it, like, I can tell this is different?

COCO GAUFF: I would say as I've gotten older, definitely there's a difference in the ball. But, yeah, I mean, my dad has done this to me multiple times. He changed my tension to see if I would notice on the racquet. I don't.

I'm not one of those players that can tell the difference. I think a player, like a fan, asked me what the weight was of my racquet. I don't know (smiling). I'm not really particular in that.

But definitely in the balls, it is a difference. I mean, I know a lot of players want to change the ball. I'm fine with it, whatever. I mean, whatever the majority wants, I'm cool with it. It doesn't really bother me.

But, yeah, I can definitely tell there's a difference.

Q. What does it feel to have your own shoe? Were there any shoes growing up that you remember that you wanted to get?

COCO GAUFF: Well, really I didn't realize how big of a deal it was until last night. I had shed some happy tears. We've been doing the process for, like, two years. I didn't really know. I mean, I know what a signature shoe is, but I didn't combat it in my brain.

Now that I think about it, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, all these people. I think I'm the second. I think Roger is the only other active tennis player with a shoe out. That's pretty cool.

To be added to this list is something crazy. People ask, I like your shoes, it's cool to say, Yeah, they're mine. I guess that's cool (smiling).

Q. When a player's ranking goes up, there are certain privileges on tour that come with that, whether it's small things like being in a better dressing room or getting a courtesy car. Sometimes it's how you are treated. What do you remember of that change, okay, I'm part of a certain group now?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, a lot of it I didn't even know there was differences. Wimbledon, there is a separate locker room. I was like, Oh, that's pretty cool. I didn't even know. I didn't know. The lady told me, You're supposed to be up here.

I was like, I don't care.

Yeah, definitely little things like that. With practice courts, it's definitely a lot easier, unfortunately (smiling). Yeah, those are things that I did notice.

Hopefully I can keep going higher. I mean, I'm not motivated by that. I mean, it's cool little pluses. I prefer to be where the people are because I'm friends, enjoy everyone on tour. I like to talk. I don't like to be isolated too much.

Q. Some of the American women have performed well in 2022. We've had five players in the WTA Top 25, including you and your doubles partner. Can you talk about what it means to be an elite U.S. player at the country's biggest tennis tournament, the state of American women's tennis?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it's super cool to have such a great group of people. With Jess, I was talking to her about it in Toronto, how excited we were to play doubles here just because she's the No. 1 American, and I don't know where my ranking is now, but I'm like No. 2 or 3.

It's nice to play in the U.S. You definitely feel it with the fans and everything. I think we're a pretty patriotic people. People come out to support you. I remember even when I was playing quallies here when I was 14, obviously no one knew who I was, but I had so much crowd support on that match. I think people here just enjoy it.

What I've been seeing in the quallies, I got to go out and see Chris Eubanks play. He's going to laugh, but not many people know who Chris Eubanks is (laughter). But 17 was a pretty packed court. It just shows how many people enjoy the Americans. Yeah, he's going to laugh when he sees this. But whatever, it's okay (laughter).

Q. You're playing here as a world No. 1 in doubles. What does that mean to you? How much of a surprise is it?

COCO GAUFF: Definitely the most surprising. Never thought, my goals, that I would be No. 1. Didn't even know there was separate rankings from singles and doubles. I didn't know I was close to being No. 1 until Jess told me after myself semifinal match. She's, like, You know if we win tomorrow, we're going to be No. 1.

I was, like, Why would you tell me that? I didn't even know (laughter). I knew I was ranked high in the rankings.

To be frank, I didn't care about reaching No. 1 until she told me. I was like, Now I'm tight.

Yeah, but it's pretty cool to be No. 1 in something. It's a, I guess, a surprising goal, that I hit. I always say pretty much from my juniors, junior career, that all my firsts have been doubles in doubles. Hopefully one day we can get the No. 1 singles ranking. I guess my goal now is to try to be No. 1 at the both at the same time. That might take some time, but that would be pretty cool, too.