PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 17, 2024

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/S. Vickery

6-3, 4-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Coco, can you just begin by describing your thoughts after the match.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it was a tough match today. You know, there is a lot of areas I can improve on. I always kind of start rough at this tournament. I was hoping for a different start this year, but, you know, just happy to get through today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congrats on the win. Just talk about facing Sachia. Was she doing anything that surprised you at all or that you had to problem-solve particularly for tonight?

COCO GAUFF: No, she played how I thought she would. I think in the second I threw in a lot of doubles and in the third and a lot of unforced errors. I think she was just trying to get every ball back because she knew I was missing.

In the first set I think I played with more margin and played a little bit heavier, which I found in the third, and I think I was just missing a lot. So I just need to be more consistent.

Q. Go beyond the match, in general, do you have certain connections to Germany, maybe even to this region? Do you know some German? What do you think about the country and the atmosphere here?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think, I mean, I haven't gone to Germany other than for tennis tournaments, but I really enjoy going to Berlin. It's one of my favorite stops.

I think for me I like the German fashion. I think, like, the goth and the emo type of eye is very popular here. I noticed that a lot in Berlin and even here. This year was the first time I actually went outside of the tournament grounds. I went to the mall and kind of in the city, and I saw a lot of girls dressed like that, which I thought was pretty cool, because it's an aesthetic that I like.

Yeah, in Stuttgart, honestly the weather has not been too bad this year, so this is the first time I was actually wanting to go outside, because it's been sunny and not rainy. I know it hailed a little bit earlier today.

So, yeah, I think every time I'm learning more and more about the region. Yeah, maybe one day I can come outside of a tennis tournament.

Q. What would you do then?

COCO GAUFF: I don't know. Maybe you should be the one to recommend to me (smiling).

I usually don't have too much time for tourism, but when I was in Berlin I did a lot of learning about history and the Wall and everything about World War II, which is something I was interested in.

But in Stuttgart, I don't know much to do here. I did go to the mall, which was way nicer than the malls in South Florida. So that was nice.

But I don't know. Maybe you could tell me some things to do if I have time. I mean, now that the tournament started, it might be a little hard.

Q. One nontennis question. Did you get stopped in the mall? Did people want selfies or anything?

COCO GAUFF: I did do it once or twice. I don't think they know a lot of tennis players here in Stuttgart. And honestly, Europe, I don't get stopped that much. Even in the U.S. it's not that much as people think, which I'm grateful for.

Q. I have one about the double faults, as well, that you touched on. This is something that, for me at least, I don't watch you every day, every week, but it's something that seems to come and go. I remember a couple years ago it was a theme. Do you know when this might be coming back? Do you sense it during a match or during a week or tournament?

COCO GAUFF: No, it's not something I sense. Honestly I was serving well all of the practice matches. Today I think in the tight moments I just lose a little bit of the technique that I have been working on.

I did make an adjustment on my serve, so I think it's trying not to go back to old habits. It's tough in the moments to really remember the things I need to remember, but I think I'm just happy with how I competed through it, and I'm going to go practice and work on it tomorrow and hopefully be better for the next match.

Q. Congrats on the win. Can you tell us a little bit about your coaching situation? I think Brad Gilbert is not here? Are you talking on the phone after these matches? Is he coming to Madrid and Rome?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, he's supposed to come to Madrid. He's not here. I think when I started with him, he was never going to be coming to every tournament. Just mainly the big ones, especially in the European part of the swing, I think, most of the time. We started in the U.S. swing, so it was a lot easier for him to travel. Even in Australia he wasn't in Auckland. He came to Australia.

It always was supposed to be like that. I added J.C. to the team, which I started with him when I was, like, 14 and we ended because he had visa issues so it was neither of our choices. I thought we were working together well and the timing worked out.

Yeah, that's the situation for now. He's supposed to come to Madrid, and then, yeah, that's how it is (smiling). I'm really happy with it. I think I found the team that I really like right now, and hopefully it can last long term.

Q. So he didn't choose Zendaya over you?

COCO GAUFF: No, no.

Q. That's not why he's not here?

COCO GAUFF: No, he did not choose Zendaya over me (smiling). I think I kind of told him to take a step back, especially with starting with J.C., I wanted him to just be able to work on it on his own and play a tournament by himself. And also, like, we are going to have two tournaments together. We're going to spend a lot of time together. If you know Brad, it's good to take a break sometimes (smiling).

Q. But on that topic, kind of, obviously the big Challengers tour, not the tennis tour, but the movie tour -- you know where I'm going with this. But just in terms of does Brad tell you Zendaya stories? How much tea does he spill to you? I think you saw her video about wanting to meet you. When do you think that could ever happen?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I have some Zendaya stories. Not any bad ones. Just about her training for the movie. Yeah, he said that she picked it up decently well. I mean, it's hard to replicate tennis, but one thing he did say, she is a hard worker and she was trying as hard as she can to make it as perfect as she could and that she's a super-sweet girl.

That's how I actually got the flowers from her. He's the one who gave her my address. I did see the video. It was very, very cool. I loved all the Challengers fashion looks. I thought that was really cool to see tennis in that way, because I felt for a tennis player for us, a lot of us wouldn't want to do that, but she made it look like high fashion and chic.

Yeah, the only thing is I haven't seen the movie yet, so I'm excited. I think people shouldn't go into the movie critiquing the tennis. I think really that's just not what the story is about. So he did tell me that.

You know, I will say he said the movie was a little out there for a 60-year-old man with the threesome and everything like that. He did say that (smiling).

But he said I just wanted to focus on the tennis and not the storyline, but for me, I love that type of stuff. I love the drama, and I love the love triangles. I love all of that. So I'm really excited to see it. I literally have it on my list of movies I'm going to go to see in Europe. As soon as it releases, if I'm not playing a match, I'm going to go.

Q. You have always talked about how you played basketball alongside playing tennis, and obviously you chose tennis ultimately. Obviously back in the States the WNBA, NCAAs with Caitlin Clark and Kamilla, everybody, it's blowing up everything. I'm curious if you think back to what would have happened had you chosen basketball and what your thoughts are about kind of where, yeah, just this moment for women's basketball in the States?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it's funny because my dad was actually talking about that. He was, like, You would have been right up there. You would have been a sophomore. I would have had you shooting Js and everything.

Yeah, I don't know if I would be that type of player, but I will say if I could go in another life I would love to play on the same time as Caitlin Clark just to see if I could guard her. Obviously now I definitely couldn't, but I don't know, if I trained for it, just to see.

I will say, like, the movement to basketball and tennis is very similar with the change of direction, so I feel like, you know, most tennis players would not be so bad at defense if they knew how to play basketball, but offense, no.

It's very exciting to see the women's game especially in basketball getting as much traction now. They definitely deserve it. I've been Instagram Mutuals with some of the girls. Cameron Brink just signed with New Balance. And Angel Reese, had some DMs with her, and same with Caitlin and Paige Bueckers.

I'm really excited. I'm trying to go to a game. I hope they expand, because it's only like 12 teams right now, so it's tough with the tennis life to travel to a game, but I did meet some of the Atlanta Dream players when I did an exhibition, I believe it was last year.

Honestly I watched every game. I had my alarm set for the March Madness. I'm really excited to see how they transition into the W. I think it's just great and exciting.

I know tennis has been there, and I'm just excited to see these incredible athletes get the recognition that they deserve, and I think in the whole it will uplift our sport and other sports like women's soccer and all that.

I think it's great that people are paying attention to it. I'm just really excited to see Caitlin Clark's first game, and Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. I'm really excited to see them on the same team too.