AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2023

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/B. Pera

6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Coco, congratulations. Back into the fourth round. Give us your thoughts on your performance today.

COCO GAUFF: Thank you.

Yeah, I thought I played really well. Bernarda played a great match. I think I did a good job of mixing defense and offense, taking my chances when I could.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Has it felt methodical this week, kind of going through, not just on the singles court but the doubles court, going through the matches, not too much hype or stress?

COCO GAUFF: Not really. I feel like -- I mean, I'm not stressed going into this tournament. I don't want to say stressed.

I definitely feel like every match, I don't know, I feel like I'm approaching it with importance. Yeah, obviously the last match definitely was hyped up from the outside. But on the inside for me felt really calm. I approached it as I did every other match. Same with today.

But I definitely feel like my draw here is not, like, other than Emma, hadn't had any, like, huge names, where I feel like tournaments in the past I've had.

I wouldn't say more relaxed, but not so much outside pressure.

Q. You've had sort of a spotlight on you for a few years now. You're always playing on big courts. I think you mentioned Monday you felt it was an honor to open the tournament. Do you ever wish you were starting out on a field court or do you thrive off the energy?

COCO GAUFF: I definitely do thrive off the energy. Honestly, truly shocked I've been on Laver like all my matches. One of the players asked what time I was playing. I was third. They were like, What court? I was like, Laver. He was like, Of course, they wouldn't put you anywhere else. I'm like, I don't know, maybe because Rafa is out they need somebody else (laughter). I don't know. I feel weird saying that.

I do thrive on the big courts and I love it. I don't take it for granted because I don't know if it will keep happening, but I'm going to enjoy the moment while it lasts.

Q. Is there any benefit to being a little bit out of the spotlight? You probably don't know because you've never really been there.

COCO GAUFF: I'll say I don't know. I don't know about a benefit because I don't know. But there's definitely a difference. I feel like, you know, without being in the spotlight, you come more under the radar, less pressure, you don't feel as many people online are probably going to, like, hate you if you lose (smiling).

But, like I said, I don't know if it's a benefit or not. But I do think me personally, with my personality, the way I play, the way I kind of control my head in the matches, I think the big courts and the big moments push me to be stronger.

Q. Yesterday you played doubles with Jess, got the win. She said that afterwards you were like, Oh, Fort Worth is behind us.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah.

Q. Was that kind of facetious or did you feel like Fort Worth was still lingering a little bit?

COCO GAUFF: I wouldn't say it was -- it was like a joke. I wouldn't say, like, it was still lingering. You know, I know if we lost the match, it would be, Oh, they lost, like, five matches in a row, blah, blah, blah. I was like, Fort Worth is officially behind us.

It's definitely a thought. Last time we played, last time we were on the court together was that experience, and it wasn't a fun one.

Singles was in my head. I pushed it way out obviously with the results in Auckland, and so far here. I was just like, One last thing we have to get rid of and Fort Worth will be officially behind us (laughter).

Q. Looking ahead, you play Ostapenko next. Obviously she hits a big ball. What is the challenge of defusing a player like that, a marquee matchup given your pedigrees?

COCO GAUFF: I think for me, I played her before. I think it's just being offensive when you can. Obviously there's going to be shots that she hits that are just going to be too good, accepting that.

It will be, I feel like, a similar match to today regarding the playing. Bernarda was hitting the ball pretty hard. I think she was hitting big shots.

I was also trying to be offensive when I can. I think that's going to be a similar matchup just instead of playing a righty instead of a lefty.

Q. Obviously you know Jess quite well. I'm wondering, how much do you follow her matches on court, whether it's as a competitor, as a teammate in doubles, as a friend? Any different from the way you watch any other players out there while you're in a tournament? The other sort of half of the question is just, if you can assess how well you think she's playing at the moment. Is this maybe as good as you've seen her play?

COCO GAUFF: I think I do watch her as a friend, I would say. I was watching her, was it her second round, yeah, my second round, she had a night match. No, I had the night match, she had the day. I was able to watch her.

I do follow her results just because I always root for her. I do that for all my friends on tour.

Yeah, I think she's been playing well. She's always playing well. I feel like she's just one of those players on tour that is just consistent and plays well. I think she's always a contender in a slam. That's just my personal opinion.

Is this the best I've seen her play? I mean, I've only watched two matches. She pretty much won those pretty smoothly. So yes, maybe. Also I've seen her up close, she's been playing this good. I feel like especially towards the end of last season, she's been playing this good. It showed in Guadalajara.

Personally I knew she was going to win Guadalajara after watching, like, her quarterfinal match. I was like, Yeah. Certain things you watch a player, you just know this is their moment. I think especially this season for Jess will be her moment.

But I think she's always been a contender. I don't think any top player wants to see her early in a tournament, or any player in general wants to see her early in a tournament.

Q. You mentioned Ostapenko, she's going to hit some shots that are too good. Do you like playing other power players, going power versus power, or is it easier for you to take on someone who is more creative or off-speed?

COCO GAUFF: I think it depends on the day really. With a power hitter, sometimes they're just on, there's nothing you can do. I just feel like it depends on the day.

I think for me, I mean, especially last night or tonight -- today, and the other night, I think Emma was playing, towards the end of the match, was playing as a power hitter, then Bernarda today. It's definitely something that I'm getting used to in these last two matches.

I guess in the past I would say I probably struggled with power hitters. I played Siniakova who is pretty creative, has a lot of unique shots. She can also hit the ball, too.

I don't really know which one I prefer. It just honestly depends on the day. These conditions on the stadiums is not too windy. You probably wouldn't want to play someone with, like, dropshots and slice on a windy day. So, yeah, I think these conditions is probably a little bit easier for anyone in general, unless you're that type of person that likes to play in the wind.

I don't know. I can't really answer that because I've done well against both styles. It's not necessarily one where I hope I don't have to play them, yeah.

Q. Do you get a sense there's this kind of momentum behind the American players at this tournament in particular? On the women's side, we've always had American women going deep at majors for decades. We're starting to see that with the guys as well. You're friends with a lot of them. Do you get a sense there's a little bit more kind of this excitement amongst you guys right now?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, definitely. I definitely think on the men's side they're, like, thriving really. It's like eight people in the round of 32 I saw. I think it's incredible. It's just people that you've been rooting for for a long time, and some new faces, too, that people probably haven't been rooting for a long time but fell in love with.

I'm just excited. I think on the women's side, we're always like the guys need to catch up, you guys need to put in your work. I think they're here. I'm hoping that, you know, eventually, hopefully soon, we'll have our slam champion on the men's side.

That would be pretty cool if an American woman and guy could win the same slam. I don't know when the last time that's happened or if it's ever happened. I'll be pretty excited.

I definitely think the guys are feeling it. You can see it. I think it really comes from, not the women, but the same dynamic, where everybody is doing well, so it makes you want to do well. We're all not competing with each other, but pushing each other. I think that's what the men are having. They're competing against each other but also pushing each other to be better. I'm pretty sure all the American guys get along, at least that's what I think.

Q. You mentioned Auckland. How did you rate that tournament and how it helped your preparation?

COCO GAUFF: It helped a lot. I mean, the weather wasn't ideal, but it's one of those things that it gave me everything that I could possibly face with the rain delays and everything.

But I think it was a great tournament. I think they did the best they could considering the circumstances. I played it three years ago when it was a lot sunnier and I had a great time. I would definitely like to play that tournament again. Hopefully the weather blesses us next time (smiling).

Q. On the topic of the American guys, a lot of them have taken you, not under their wing, you don't need that, but just the banter, the camaraderie, the positive energy on Instagram from Chris, Ben, Frances. How does that feel to kind of be able to have that camaraderie for you?

COCO GAUFF: It feels great, honestly. I always look forward to the joint events. When they're playing, I look at the draw and I'm happy they're in the draw. We went mini golfing the other night. It's something I want to do more at more tournaments especially.

I mean, I'm going to be around these people hopefully for a long time, so I think that we all just push each other and root for each other. Yeah, I appreciate it. I don't know, hopefully they like -- most of the time I'm roasting them online, so I don't know if they like it or not. It's quite opposite. They always post nice things about me, and I'm like always roasting them. It's okay.

I think they like it. I definitely appreciate it. It makes things more fun and I'm grateful that they're doing well on tour and that we can push each other to be better.

Q. You used to have to do all that high school homework until last year. Are you taking any college classes yet or is that something you might do at some point?

COCO GAUFF: It's something I want to do in the future. I'm not doing anything right now. I said I want a year of being on tour and just being tennis, and seeing how I feel.

I definitely want to take probably two or three classes at a time, see how I like it, then probably expand from there.