OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 11, 2023

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

J. PEGULA/C. Gauff

6-2, 5-7, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Coco, if you could just give us your thoughts on the match. Obviously it was a very tough competition out there today.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it was a tough match for me today. I think I started off a little bit slow, but I was able to turn it around a little bit for the second set.

Then in the third I think I could have served a little bit better, been more aggressive in certain moments and less unforced errors, but Jess is not an easy player. If you don't hit a great shot, she's going to punish you for it. Also, you know, she's not easy to give you free balls or free points as well.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. If I may, two questions. First of all, just want to make sure you're fine because we've just learned that you've withdrawn from the doubles. Not an injury matter?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it was Jess. It wasn't me. Yeah, I mean, we played a long match today, and she still has to try to play singles.

So, yeah, I'm good. It's all good on my end. Thank you.

Q. As far as the match was concerned today, is it always tough to face her?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah. I mean, I lost to her twice and won once. I think this is probably the better quality of matches that we've played this third time than the first two times we played.

But, yeah, I guess now she's 4 in the world. I don't know where she's at, 3 or 4. 3, okay. 3 in the world. Yeah, she's there for a reason, and I think she's definitely one of the most consistent players on tour.

She's making quarters, semis, finals pretty much weekly, and yeah, she's a tough player.

Q. How does it feel to play against someone you know so well?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, it doesn't feel as much as people make it out to be. Jess and I have obviously more of a public friendship because we're playing doubles a lot, but I'm friends with a lot of the girls on tour, so it's quite the same thing.

Obviously, we're playing doubles, so you guys -- I guess our friendship is more of a big thing, but you'll be surprised how often we play people that we're close to on tour.

It's nothing different. You know, you fight your hardest on the court, and off the court everything is cool.

Q. So you don't find it too difficult to not think about it at all?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, playing her is difficult, but I don't think me being friends with her makes it more difficult. I think that's just my mindset. I want to win regardless who is on the other side of the court.

When it comes to things like, yeah, she probably knows my game better than most players because we do spend a lot of time together on court with practicing for doubles and practicing with singles and stuff, but I guess the personal side of it, no, I don't think it makes it harder.