ROLAND GARROS

June 2, 2024

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/E. Cocciaretto

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Coco, a very straightforward performance out there today for you. Just talk us through your thoughts on the match, please.

COCO GAUFF: I'm really happy with how I played today. I played her in Dubai, and it was a little bit tougher. So happy that I took what I learned from that match into today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. There was tennis this morning at 3 o'clock with Novak Djokovic. It's a general theme in tennis throughout the slams where tennis is going on after midnight. I just wonder, should there, A, be a cutoff where tennis should not start; and, B, what can be done? You're the stars. You've got to play the next day and the next match. What can be done to stop players playing so early in the morning?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I definitely think finishing at 3:00 a.m. is -- I feel like a lot of times people think you're done, but really, 3:00 a.m., then you have press and then you have to shower, eat, and then a lot of times people do treatments, so that's probably not going to bed until 5:00 at the earliest, maybe 6:00, and even 7:00.

I definitely think it's not healthy. It may be not fair for those who have to play late because it does ruin your schedule. I've been lucky I haven't been put in a super late finish yet.

What can be done? I know on the tour side they're thinking about putting matches can't start after a certain time. I don't know if it's going to be a Grand Slam rule, but I know on the WTA Tour. I think that's something to look at. Maybe if a match is going long, possibly moving courts. Then I know it's tough because, especially here, it's only one night match, and people obviously paid for those tickets.

It's a complicated thing, but I definitely think for the health and safety of the players it would be in the sport's best interest I think to try to avoid those matches finishing -- or starting after a certain time. Obviously, you can't control when they finish.

Q. Novak, Rafa, lots of other people who win these tournaments have talked about in Grand Slams sort of trying to get better with each match and improving and sort of finding their game, finding their rhythm. You play a lot. Is that also your approach when you're in a long tournament, or given where you are in your career, is there something else that goes on in terms of how you go from match to match?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I definitely think that's what you want to do is improve through each match. Sometimes how you start is not necessarily how you finish a tournament. For me last week Rome was one of those where I went in not feeling great at all, and then I left feeling good about my game.

This week I feel like I've been managing and playing well. It's definitely, I feel, also tough conditions to play in. It's just really slow and muggy. The weather makes you maybe not as hyped up for your match just naturally.

It's definitely I think for me this week at Roland Garros has been a little bit different than the past first weeks.

Q. In the construct to Novak's match, Iga's match finished really quick. Maybe you might be in a rush to play your match. How do you prepare? How does it affect to your mindset or preparation?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, I figured that the match -- usually if you're after her, you know it's probably going to be a quick match. So I figured the match would probably go an 1:15, an hour at the quickest. I definitely wasn't expecting 40 minutes.

It didn't really affect much because I kind of knew. We planned for it. So, yeah, it's one of those things that you kind of plan for the fastest-case scenario. I didn't feel affected by how fast it went.

Q. Just picking up on the question of late finishes and health and safety and health of athletes in general, Iga said we just accept basically what we're asked to do, there's no point challenging it, even though she didn't agree with it. You see it in other sports like soccer. People playing 80 games a season, a lot of injuries, and a players union saying the players can't take anymore. Do you think athletes in general should have more of a say in this kind of thing?

COCO GAUFF: I think in a way, yes. I think that we're their product, essentially, and I definitely think -- I feel like tournaments are becoming more understanding. Some tournaments are more understanding than others. It's tough.

But I think tournaments -- I can't speak for other sports because I don't know how their setup is run, but I think in general we should listen to the players more.

I know there's a product to sell, and I know that there's certain things outside of the control, but overall, if there's a list of little things as like the balls. If there's multiple players -- and I feel like there was a lot -- complaining about the ball changing, especially on the men's side, every week, I think that's something that can be considered when it comes to tournaments and the health and safety of players.

Obviously I don't want to complain too much about it because we are very blessed and privileged to be playing for a lot of money, and there's people working real jobs under worse conditions for less money and just trying to get by. So it's a balance between two things.

Yes, things can get better, but also, for me it's more something that you can probably privately, I would say -- I would complain about. It's just tough for me knowing where some of my family come from and where things are, and I think about the people hearing this. Yes, if I was a person working, I would be upset to hear, you know, players complain.

But I definitely think there's a balance of saying publicly, like -- and I do agree that things can be ran better behind the scenes. I think that tournaments are trying their best and players are trying their best. I just think we have to meet in a middle ground for the health and safety of everyone.

Q. I wanted to ask, obviously, you're playing doubles here as well as you normally do. How has the process been for you generally in picking your partner? What's the kind of thought process?

COCO GAUFF: This week it was just a last-minute decision (laughing). Really, I was trying to find an American to play with because Jessie pulled out, and obviously the Olympics are going to be here. My whole plan at the start of the year was to try to play with somebody I could potentially play with at the Olympics.

You know, that was kind of last-minute thrown out because of Jess's injury. I just wasn't even going to play at first. Then Taylor Townsend unfortunately rolled her ankle. She text me about playing with Katerina. I was, like, yeah, I'll do it. Obviously, she's won multiple slams in this sport, and we could have a good chance.

I'm not putting too much pressure on it. I wanted to play primarily just to get some clay prep for the Olympics because that's an area I want to do well. So that was my focus for this tournament.

I will say in the future I will be playing less doubles, but I'll still incorporate it every now and then.

Q. There's a chance you might face Clara Tauson in your next match. How well do you know her, and what do you think of her as a player and as a person?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, we played juniors together. I don't believe we ever played each other in juniors or pro. I have to double-check that, but I have practiced with her.

Yeah, I think she's a great player and she's a solid ball striker. She's having a great tournament, so it's very likely that I can play her. She's playing Ons, who is also a great opponent.

As a person, I haven't spoken to her a lot, but every time I do have brief interaction with her, she's super nice. One of my friends that I grew up with is best friends with her, so I'm sure she's a super nice girl. We just haven't had the chance to have our paths cross too much.

Q. This one goes back to way before your time, but celebrating the 50th anniversary of Chrissie's first title here.

COCO GAUFF: Oh, cool.

Q. Just wondering how much you know about the legacy she left behind here, seven titles. I think she was 72-6 lifetime at RG. The OG queen of clay. I was wondering if you have any thoughts on her career and what she's leaving behind here.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it's obviously a great career, and I know well about her record here. Yeah, especially it's not something like Americans necessarily do too well here. I think her and Serena are probably one of the few with multiple on there for Americans.

Chrissie is a great person. I've gotten to know her over the last year, and everything that she's dealing with in her personal life, I commend her for just being still active in the sport. She reaches out to me a lot and still active and just trying to, you know, make -- I don't know if she speaks to a lot of other players, but just helped us that are on tour right now and teaching us from her experience.

I wish her all the best, and I hope I can maybe get one. I know I probably won't get seven, but maybe just one, but it's very cool the legacy that she has here.