GUADALAJARA OPEN

October 20, 2022

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/M. Trevisan

6-0, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Coco, you seemed to be a little bit more straight forward today. How do you feel about your performance?

COCO GAUFF: I feel really good after today. This is my third time playing her, so it's not an easy match. But I'm happy that I did well today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Is it really weird and hard to see a player on the top in singles and doubles. You classified to the Finals in both. What is the key?

COCO GAUFF: It means a lot to me because I enjoy both singles and doubles a lot, and I want to be successful at both. So qualifying for both means a lot to me.

It's not what I kind of expected in the beginning of the year, to be honest, but then when you realize that the goal is near, you just want to get and qualify.

Hopefully we can do well in both singles and doubles.

Q. Yesterday you said you weren't feeling your best, but today you had the bagel after the first set. Did you feel differently today, and if so, what changed? It's been less than 24 hours.

COCO GAUFF: I feel a lot better. I think it's just another day here, just adjusting to the conditions. The first match, especially when you play someone who already had a match under them. So that's the good thing and bad thing about byes: you're into the second round, but you are also someone who has already played a match under these conditions.

I think the more you play, the better you feel and the more you can feel the ball. A lot changes from - everybody is talking about it - the altitude coming from San Diego to here.

I find that now today I think I'm really comfortable, and I'm used to realizing how hard or how much spin I have to use when hitting.

Q. How do you handle playing singles and doubles on the same day? What are the main challenges and the preparation for it?

COCO GAUFF: Usually I do two-a-days at home, to be honest. So I practice twice a day a lot. Usually the practices are harder than the matches, to be honest, at least physically. So I think I am just used to it. I think it all starts on the practice court. Then when you come out here, everything should feel routine.

So for me, especially doing this tournament to tournament, I think it's almost a routine. But it's always more complicated when my partner and I are playing on the same days because we have to wait for each other to finish or vice versa.

Q. I know we're not yet there, but yesterday you told us that one of your main goals is to win Grand Slams, and you are already qualified to the WTA Finals. Could you compare the Finals like a grand slam?

COCO GAUFF: Yes and no. I feel like, obviously, the level -- I mean, every match is not going to be easy, and at a Grand Slam I feel like every match is not easy.

There is something about when you step on the court at a Grand Slam that feels different than any other tournament. I don't know. This is my first Finals, so I guess the feeling could be the same or not. I don't think so.

Just because I grew up watching the Grand Slams. They're in the same place. The Finals change every year, so I think there's something about playing on a place that you grew up watching that makes you a little bit more nervous.

I think for me the Grand Slams will always add an extra special feeling to it, the tournament. But I think the WTA Finals is probably as close as it's going to get.

Q. I want to ask you what do you think about the criticism to the professional athletes on social network?

COCO GAUFF: It's obviously something that you kind of have to deal with, while at the same time there are certain apps that do a better job of controlling and filtering words, per se.

I mean, I don't know if there is a way to change things. I'm not a tech person, so I don't know how that would work. But obviously, when you lose, you expect to get a lot of hate messages. I think you just have to kind of figure out what works best for you.

For me, I usually don't go on my phone after a losses, and sometimes I do. It doesn't really bother me, to be honest. If anything, it motivates me more.

But it just depends on the athlete and the person. Some people take it to heart. For me, not so much. Also, I feel like I've become desensitized to it because I've been getting it now for four years.

Yeah, I think it's something that athletes shouldn't have to deal with, but unfortunately we do. I think you have to find a method that works best for you.

Q. You are waiting for Victoria Azarenka and Madison Keys. Which one do you prefer and why?

COCO GAUFF: I don't prefer either/or. Honestly, whoever wins, wins. They're both going to be difficult opponents. They kind of play different but similar. Both big hitters. Both are going to hit a lot of winners.

Either way I think they both have a game that's kind of similar, so I can approach it almost the same, but also at the same time they're slightly different.

So I don't really have a preference. I am sure that it's going to be a good match regardless of who I play.

Q. Paula retired yesterday. Do you have any opinion about that?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I saw that it was illness. I didn't see the match, so I didn't see what was leading up to the retirement.

But, you know, it happens. I sent her a message. I hope she gets well soon. It sucks. I know that she was in the hunt to try to qualify for The Race. It sucks when your season ends like that.

I'm not sure if she's playing Billie Jean King Cup or not. I don't know. I didn't check. If it ends here, I'm sure she's going to have a nice time off and enjoy a little vacation. I hope that she gets better soon and at least before she has to leave. Nobody wants to travel while sick.