AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 16, 2023

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/K. Siniakova

6-1, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Coco, congratulations on your first round win. How did you feel out there on court today?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I felt really good on Laver today. Glad to open up the tournament on that court and glad to go through the next round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How much does it take a little bit of the weight off the shoulders given last year you bowed out in the first round, just getting this one under your belt?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, yeah, the first round is probably always one of the toughest of the tournament, and I'm just glad to get out of it. Especially last year I had a disappointing result, but I'm glad to overcome that and hopefully get some more wins under my belt here.

Q. What did you feel today that you executed really well? What are you most pleased with? What do you think you'll have to focus on for your next match?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think I served really well, did a good job holding serve when I needed to, and breaking serve ball. I think breakpoints converted did a pretty good job. Then a lot of net points won. I don't know how many. But felt like I was winning a lot at the net.

Those are the key points I've been working on, and I'm glad I was able to execute them today.

Q. Speaking of coming to the net, for a long time you've come forward and obviously you play doubles. Was there ever a time when you were scared of coming to the net?

COCO GAUFF: Not really, no. I've never been scared coming to the net. I guess it's all about deciding on the right times to come to the net.

No, I know for the most part I have good hands and sometimes the easier volleys are the ones you don't really have to think on. I think I have good reactions coming to the net, so I kind of just allow myself to trust myself. And also accept that, you know, they're going to hit some good passing shots. As long as you're winning a majority of the points, then there's nothing to be afraid of.

Q. You have Emma Raducanu in the next round. I'm not sure how well you know her, if you know her off the court at all. How do you relate to her or understand the pressures, so young in her career?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I talk to her pretty much at all the tournaments. I didn't really know her that well in juniors, but I got to talk to her more on tour now.

I mean, obviously she's gone through a lot of pressure, bursting onto the scene. I feel like probably more than I have experienced coming to win a slam. And especially I feel like being from the UK, being like the first British person to do something in a long time, probably is a lot more pressure than what I'm used to being an American. You know, Serena is retired now, but she was always the American that people looked to.

Yeah, I can't really understand as much as I can, but I definitely can relate to bursting onto the scene and dealing with some pressure but I don't think to that level.

Q. I was interested in the similarities you feel between your experiences and Emma's. Is it also slightly different because even though you arrived with a splash at Wimbledon as a 15-year-old, that you've kind of more gradually built up in the Grand Slams?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think, like there's definitely a difference coming in to win a slam and the fourth round. Obviously I was a lot younger when I got the attention, so I definitely think handling it at an older age is a little bit easier than at 15. But also, at the same time, I didn't win a slam (smiling). I'm not British, and wasn't the first British woman to do that in I don't know how many years to do what she did.

Like I said, with being an American, all the spotlight isn't on you all the time. We have a great field with Jessica Pegula, Maddie Keys, Shelby Rogers, Amanda. There's always, I guess, for American fans someone to look to. Whereas I feel like the British it's just her. There's other British players, but no one has done what she's done and gotten that far in a slam.

Like I said, it's definitely a difference, but I can't relate but also at the same time it's not just me who has to handle the pressure. American tennis you have other people that you kind of share with it. I think that's also what makes American tennis really strong on the women's game because we're all sharing the pressure with each other.

Q. I just want to expand on the thing you just mentioned. Now that the Williams sisters, Serena has retired and Venus is in the later stages of her career, now that you and Jessie are in the top 10, would that kind of add extra pressure carrying the American flag in all these big events right now?

COCO GAUFF: I feel like not really. I feel like what Serena and Venus has done is still at another level. I feel like it's very hard to, I guess, feel like you belong on that level or that you should take over that mantle that they did. It's very hard to, I guess, put myself in that position of feeling pressure.

Let's say Serena only won like two slams, then maybe I would feel it a little bit more, but I think 20-something, I don't know, is a lot. So I'm just starting off with one. I feel like Jess and I are just trying to start with one.

Yes, we feel pressure being the top Americans and want to do well for our country but I feel they're on the GOAT status and we're not even close to reaching that so there's no need for us to put pressure on ourselves for that yet.

Q. How tough was it, if you go back and think about that follow-up year of just grinding, and you were under age restriction so you were still having to be very specific about your tournaments, but was it hard to just go from, you know, Centre Court roaring, US Open, Ashe roaring and stuff like that, to just the grind of the tour?

COCO GAUFF: Not really, because I think I love the game so much and I knew going in I felt like what I felt, I just thought would last for that tournament. And I've been very blessed and lucky, like here to be able to open on Laver and got to play on Centre Court Wimbledon several times after that.

I guess in that moment, I thought that was my time, it's done. It wasn't really hard to motivate. I just wanted to do so well so I wasn't unmotivated.

Yeah, I think with the age restrictions, last year was my first full year on tour, so it was definitely tricky picking the tournaments. Because, you know, there's always the bigger tournaments that you want to play, but, you know, sometimes you have to be realistic and play some of the smaller tournaments to get points.

It was definitely a battle, but I also think I've been lucky and worked hard enough to do well in the bigger tournaments, so those were always my priority. But I don't know if that would be the same for every other person under 18 playing on tour.

Q. Opening up on Rod Laver Arena, how normal does that feel now? Is that still something strange or something that you're adjusting to?

COCO GAUFF: I feel like if it was on US Open it would be believable because I'm American, that makes sense. I feel everywhere else where I'm playing on the center court I definitely feel a bit of a privilege, especially at a tournament like here where there's so many amazing matchups happening today and so many amazing players they can choose from. I definitely felt incredibly lucky to open up the court here. I've gotten the furthest is fourth round here so necessarily haven't had the best results here. It's something I don't take for granted.

I don't think it's anything you ever get used to. I mean, I guess you get less nervous when you see your name on the big court, but it's not something that I take for granted. I'm super grateful. When I saw the order of play, I was a little bit surprised. Yeah, I'm just grateful to be here, really.

Q. How satisfying was it, against Frances, to win that rally?

COCO GAUFF: So satisfying (smiling). He always claims I never want to practice with him because we have never hit before. He's like, You never want to practice. I'm like, Yeah, but you never text me or whatever. We always trash talk on who would do better.

Yeah, that was super satisfying. I mean, obviously we weren't playing for real. I'd probably have no chance. I knew that forehand rally that's my rally, I'm winning it, I'm definitely not losing to Frances. I'm glad I was able to keep that I'm never going to let him live that down.

Q. Obviously been a lot of talk about the transition game and your focus on it because we are seeing it on court, but the preseason work that you were doing on it, was it more about recognizing when to come in, was it setting up the opportunity to come in? Can you talk through that a little bit.

COCO GAUFF: I think it was all of the above. I think it's recognizing the right time to come in and also realizing my presence at the net and realizing it doesn't necessarily have to be an amazing approach shot. I feel like I have such a long wingspan and pretty good hands at the net that it definitely can be intimidating. I play with a lot of guys during the preseason and, you know, they were having some tough times passing me. I guess I just realize that confidence a little bit came from it.

Also, I realize how much I was winning at the net, and like, I know a lot of people watching the matches say I should go to the net more. I guess, well, I already knew that a long time ago, but I guess it's kind of hard to kind of believe that until you see the results happening. Yeah, it's something I was working on a lot during the preseason, and it's all about being comfortable there.

I always felt more comfortable in doubles at the net than in singles because you don't have to transition as much. You're kind of already there. Yeah, I think it's just the transition part that's the hardest. Once you're there, I feel like I have a good chance of winning the point.

Q. Is it fun to play this way compared to being on the baseline and doing the game style we were more used to you doing for the last three years?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it's definitely a lot more fun playing like this. I feel like in the past I would recognize I would go to the net but I just wouldn't commit to it. I was not afraid but I just didn't know what to do. I felt lost in that moment.

It's definitely a lot more fun. When you make an amazing volley or hit a volley winner, it just feels so great. Also, I think it puts pressure on the other person too to feel like they have to come up with an amazing shot to prevent me from coming to the net or passing me.

Q. Looking ahead to playing Emma, just from a tactical perspective, what do you make of her game? How much have you actually watched her play? Have you practiced with her? Are you familiar with her ball? What do you expect there?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I never practiced with her. I have obviously watched her play, especially during the US Open run, and, yeah, I mean, I think for a really aggressive player she likes to step in on the returns.

I'm just going to have to be ready and accept some return winners that might come my way. Yeah, I think for the most part, just continuing to play my game and focus on my end of the court. I think it will be a good matchup for both of us. I'm excited.