ROLAND GARROS

June 7, 2023

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/C. Gauff

6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Coco, obviously not the result you wanted, but obviously it was a rematch of last year's final. What did you feel was different about today's match compared to last year here?

COCO GAUFF: I tried to change up a different way of how I played. I don't know. Obviously I didn't win, so it didn't work, but I think on certain points it did.

But, yeah, I have to figure something out.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Coco, that felt like, I know the scoreline maybe doesn't reflect it, but I felt like the closest you've gotten to putting a few punches on Iga. Did you feel that way? Did you feel like it's progress even if it doesn't look like it?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, definitely. I think I had a couple of chances to maybe go up in the scoreboard. A couple break point opportunities.

Little points can always change the momentum of the match, and she takes care of the details well, and it's something that I do good too, but it's obviously against her I need to do even better.

Q. Correct me if I'm wrong, but just judging by your body language, you seem a little more peaceful than you were in Australia when you lost in the tournament. I'm just curious, is that a function of how you've played during the last eight days, or just some personal growth or just how you are experiencing it all?

COCO GAUFF: I wouldn't say I'm more at peace. To be honest, I'm still very frustrated, but I guess I'm trying not to show it as much. Yeah, I don't want those pictures on the internet.

So I'm just trying my best here (laughing).

Q. You mentioned you tried some different things today. What were those?

COCO GAUFF: I'm not going to say because, I mean, I haven't won against her, and also, maybe she recognized it or not, I don't know. Yeah, I feel like it helped me in certain moments. I just have to execute it better.

Q. I was going to ask about the same thing. It was obvious that you were hitting loopier forehands and pushing her back with loopier balls and stuff. How, I guess, difficult is it to change aspects of your game and play differently to how, I guess, you normally play?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think that's where I struggled today. Obviously there was a game plan, but you obviously have to focus on your end of the court and also on that game plan.

So I think I was, I guess, trying to find a balance and making sure I continue to do the things I like to do and then trying to force her in positions that she doesn't necessarily like.

Q. Just to follow up on that as well, did you feel early on perhaps, though, that it was working?

COCO GAUFF: Yes, I do, and I think a lot of the points I lost were off really small details. I mean, the game in the third set I had an opportunity to go up 40-Love and then also I was up 40-15 on her serve and missed two returns. That's on my end.

I mean, I'm not going to say she did nothing, but she put the serve in the court, and I didn't make her play another ball. So those are the little things I think that I need to fix or do better in those moments.

Q. There was the game early in the second set where you had a few of those break chances, and that included the point where both of you were up at the net, and your ball hit her. Can you just describe what you saw and felt in that moment, and what was going on at the end of that point there.

COCO GAUFF: I mean, the last point I lost because I was avoiding the -- I kind of shanked the backhand. Then the next one I said if I get it again, I'm not going to hit my target. It wasn't her. I didn't try to hit her. I was just trying to hit the ball hard in the middle of the court, and it happened to hit her obviously.

I apologized after, but I think she knows that's part of the game. If you hit a bad ball and you decide to run to the net, there's always a risk that you get hit, and there's always the risk that the person might miss trying to avoid you. It worked the first time. The second time it didn't work.

But if I was in her position, I wouldn't be mad at me either because she ran forward. I think when I said sorry, she shook her head, and we had a mutual understanding that that was the only shot I really had.

Q. Just with your record against her, is it hard not to get a little dispirited, or are you the kind of person that it fires you up, like, right, come on, I need to work this out, I need to get her next time?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, there's both. Obviously you lose to someone seven times, you feel crappy. It's not fun at all, but also, every time I play her, I'm not thinking about the previous record. I treat it as a new opportunity every single time, and I think that's the best way to do it.

If I go in believing that I lost the match before it already happens, then I'm never going to win. But obviously when it's over, yeah, it does suck.

Q. It's tough to come off a rough loss and just speak to us, but you were the last American woman or man in the draw. Some good wins. The season is just midway through the season. What do you leave Paris with? What are your thoughts and mindset?

COCO GAUFF: I do think I improved a lot in certain aspects of the game. I think my returns improved a lot this tournament. I mean, everybody noticed I was being more aggressive, and I think I tried that today but I missed.

But I'm overall, I guess, happy with the improvement that I have. Then also not happy because I feel like I can get a lot better.

Right now in this moment I feel like not a lot of positives, but I'm sure in a couple of days I will think more positively. But immediately after a loss, it does sting a little bit.

Q. Thanks for entertaining us at Roland Garros both on the court and off the court over the last few weeks. When I have a bad day at work, which with some of the questions I ask is quite a lot, I sulk a bit, but I've got some friends and family who cheer me up. When you have a bad day at work, what process do you go through and what or who cheers you up?

COCO GAUFF: Definitely my family. I got a lot of supportive texts after the match, so it means a lot to me that they support me in the wins and the losses.

I don't know. I guess today I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm probably just going to go order room service and get ready for tomorrow. I mean, I still have a chance in doubles.

I think really the game cheers me up. The fact that I have another opportunity to play brings excitement to me. I have an opportunity. Maybe not at the singles trophy, but the doubles trophy, and that's what makes me excited the most.

Q. Obviously you came into this tournament having a difficult few weeks, you know, just previous weeks. Yeah, how do you feel about kind of coming to the big tournament and making it to quarters and making progress?

COCO GAUFF: I'm proud of how I was able to turn around the season. I think especially those wins in the first round and then against Mirra.

In the past I would say after losing the first set it's been pretty tough for me to get back in the match, and I think that this tournament I really found that I guess the mental adjustments that I need to make in the game.

I think sometimes I can lose the first set and go into a panic mode, and I think I stayed calm. Even today I lost the first set, and, I mean, I had opportunities early in the second, but I try my best to stay calm in those moments. So I think that's something I did improve on.

But, yeah, I am happy with how I was able to turn around, especially given how the last couple of weeks have gone. Not the result that I wanted, but I'm sure there's some positives I can think of maybe in a couple of days.

Q. In those couple of days as you move forward, how long do you think this will bother you as opposed to putting your head to what's next in singles and maybe looking ahead to another Grand Slam tournament coming up in a few weeks? When you do go back to Wimbledon, how much is that first experience in 2019 there in your mind at all, or does that feel to you like it's forever ago, and you're obviously a whole different player and different person now? Just wondering how much is that history and muscle memory in there for you.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, this loss, I can't take it into the next Grand Slam, to be honest. I could, but I don't think I would be very successful if I did.

Then the 2019, yeah, I mean, I definitely have memories of it. It does feel like forever ago, but obviously there is some deja vu walking the grounds the first time. It's something that I think every time I go, will always be a memory.

I think not because of the way it happened, but I just feel like Wimbledon is one of those special tournaments that you always remember your first time playing. I would say that memory stands out the most compared to the other slams, obviously because of the way it happened.

I think a lot of players would say that something about playing Wimbledon is just really special.

Carrying it into the next Grand Slam, I'm excited. I like the grass. I have good results on there, and I think I can improve a lot, and I'm just looking forward to getting better and improving.