THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2023

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

S. KENIN/C. Gauff

6-4, 4-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Tough one today, Coco. Your initial thoughts.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, I knew it was going to be a tough first round for me. I tried my best, but it wasn't enough. I think I have a lot to work on if I want to improve from this.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You mentioned you have a lot to work on. Obviously you've just come off the court. In terms of your immediate impressions of what happened out there, what are the things you think are most important for you to work on in the coming months?

COCO GAUFF: Definitely taking care of my service games. I do think I'm a better server than her, but I think she took care more of the plus-ones and plus-twos a lot better than I did.

Obviously my forehand. I mean, being more aggressive on those shots. I think I made too many errors on my forehand and backhand today.

Q. What are your impressions of the way she played and the possibility she'll get back to the level she had?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, I knew that with three wins under her belt from quallies, I knew she was going to be playing with confidence.

Yeah, I mean, it's always possible for somebody to get back to that level. She's still on the younger end of her career. I think with how she played today, it shouldn't be too long.

Q. You're playing doubles with Pegula as well. This is your second time on grass. Are you more motivated now to push on in doubles?

COCO GAUFF: Honestly, I haven't really thought about that, so... I mean, obviously the goal would be the win in doubles, but I haven't really thought about it.

Q. I know obviously you were wary of Sofia as an opponent coming through quallies. Was she better than you expected? Were you expecting her to play that well?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, yes. I played her in Auckland. She actually played well that match, too. I think I just took care a little bit of things. It was a 4-4 match. It wasn't like an easy, straight-set win, to be honest. I knew she would play with even more or that same level intensity. It was all about how I would bring it.

She had nothing to lose today. Obviously she won a Grand Slam, but she's in a tough spot in her career. So I knew coming in she would play with a lot of motivation. It was all about how I would play today and how I would take care of my end of the court.

I did in certain moments, but obviously not a enough.

Q. Is that intensity difficult on the court, difficult to keep your focus when she's doing her thing?

COCO GAUFF: Not really. I mean, a lot of the points she won, I believe, I didn't look at the stats or anything, were a lot off of unforced errors that I made. I mean, I think I didn't really put too much pressure on her. I felt like she could make a ball on the court, didn't have to be as good, and I wouldn't do much with it. That's what happened.

If I played too passive, she has a game where she can hit aggressive shots, especially off the backhand side. I think I just -- I don't know. I have to watch the match. Those are my immediate thoughts that I felt on the court.

Q. There are 15 American women in the top 100. How much depth do you think there is? Does that inspire you?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, there's a lot of depth in our country's game, both on the men and women. It's definitely inspiring to be around people and seeing them do well.

But yeah, I don't think it adds more pressure. I don't really think we are thinking about it too much, at least me on my end. Yes, it's American tennis, but tennis is one of those sports you don't really think about the country I feel like first. You think of the player, then the country.

I don't think it adds - at least from my standpoint - more pressure.

Q. What is your general approach to handling defeat? How do you channel it toward the future?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, it really wants [sic] me to work harder. Right now I'm very frustrated and disappointed. So, yeah, I think it makes me want to work even harder. I feel like I have been working hard, but clearly it's not enough.

I have to go back to the drawing board and see where I need to improve and how to do the right drills to do that.