AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 13, 2025

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/S. Kenin

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Coco, congrats on the win. What are your thoughts when you see another Grand Slam champion in the first round?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, honestly, when I saw the draw, I was, like, it's not a great first round. She's one of those people that she can play great tennis. She's obviously won this tournament before, but, I just think of the positives of if you get through that, then you kind of have a set the tone for having a high level throughout the tournament.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. There are currently 18 American women in the top 105 and the top 20. With you being the No. 1 American woman in such a large number of top players, do you feel added pressure or expectation playing your countrywoman?

COCO GAUFF: No, I never really think about it, to be honest. I think it's actually a bit easier when you have so many top players from your same country because I guess the weight or pressure of your American tennis or country's tennis doesn't rely on you only.

Like, obviously Jess and I have gone back and forth in the rankings, and then there's also Madison, and there are so many people just doing -- so many girls just doing well and guys. I think it's a bit easier actually when you have that depth because kind of the whole country isn't all eyes on you type of situation.

Q. Just curious, what does it feel like when you can't see the ball when you are serving in the sun?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it's kind of weird. On the first you can change your toss a little bit, and you go for more, but on the second it was a bit tougher because obviously most people kind of throw their second serve toss to the left to get that kick. That was kind of right where the sun was, and it kind of, like, didn't move at all in the match.

Yeah, I was a bit struggling. It was kind of one of those things, like, when she serves on that side, I noticed she went a bit slower on first serves to get that higher percentage. I kind of kept serving the same speed because I was getting so many aces.

So it was one of those things I think that's just like a decision that I have to make in the moment because in Perth I played against Donna, and again, I couldn't see on that side, and she couldn't either. I served better. Yeah, I think it's one of those things that I have to make a game-time decision and figure out how I want to tackle that.

Q. With you being a top American, I want to ask about Taylor Fritz, who has gotten some room for himself as the top American man and was the last American man standing at all the slams last year. Spending time with him at United Cup, how do you see his role as the leader of the American men and how he sort of wears that mantle, that crown?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, Taylor has a lot of confidence. I think it's great and something that everybody can learn from. Yeah, and his mentality is very great in the belief that he has in himself and even in me. It made me play better.

He kind of predicted how the finals would go for the United Cup. So, yeah, it just shows how much confidence he has in him, and I guess it makes you have so much confidence in him. When we were playing, I knew if I got my point on the board, just the way he carries himself, you're, like, Okay, this guy is not going to lose.

So I would basically pretty much cool down all the way because I knew he was going to win his matches. Yeah, I think he's a great role model I think for -- now that I know him -- for American tennis. Yeah, I didn't know him well, and then I got to know him over the Olympics and then over United Cup. Yeah, I would say he's a great person and great player.

Q. He told you you were going to beat Iga?

COCO GAUFF: I don't know (laughing), yeah. He said that about every match, though. Every match he would just be pretty confident; Yeah, you're going to win, and I'm going to win. Yeah, that's just his mentality.

It's so matter of fact. Whereas I feel like I have a confidence, but not in that way. It's more so like not in a results type of way, but more so of how I can play. I know the ability of what I can do. He's more so confidence like he believes. It's not, like, fake. Sometimes around people you think, it's fake. No, it's very real.

I think he's someone that everybody should look out for this year because he's playing some great tennis. Obviously as he proved last year, but with that mentality I feel like he can go as far as he wants.

Q. Just wondered, you are very unusual for being somebody that broke through so young recently. More the trend has been for people to break through a bit later. I wondered why you thought there weren't so many players coming through when they were teenagers, say, like there used to be ten or so years ago?

COCO GAUFF: I think maybe there's more depth in the game now. Obviously there is, like, so many, like Capriati, Salis, so many of those stories.

I just think of the depth of the game is a lot harder. Well, a lot deeper I guess I should say. Maybe not harder; deeper.

Also, people pay attention to the sports science more. So I feel like there's more of a gap maybe physically from between like a 15-year-old body and like a 20-year-old, 25-year-old body, which I already know the differences just growing. So I think that's kind of the reason.

Yeah, and I think just the tour is tough. It's mentally not easy transitioning into juniors and into pro. You have to get used to getting your butt kicked.

If you are a top junior, you are used to rarely losing, to be honest, and then you go to the pros, and it takes all your will to win a match. I think it's just that type of thing. I think the depth on the tour maybe is longer and then sports science also has advanced.

I think just in general people are stronger, and obviously there's difference in maturity-wise, like physically.

Q. Did you have doubts about starting so young?

COCO GAUFF: Did I what?

Q. Did you have doubts about starting so young?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah. I think I was lucky because I had a great support system around me, so there was no -- like, there was pressure obviously from outside things that people around me can't control, but the people in my circle, there was no pressure.

I think I was lucky, and I was physically gifted. So I was a bit faster. Even though I was younger, I was faster than a lot of girls. Maybe not stronger, but speed can take you some way. I think that's just kind of the little bit with that.

Then, also, I just think I had so much belief in myself that I didn't even think. I don't know. Honestly now I think I have not less confidence, but I think then I was almost like delusional. I remember I had my run at Wimbledon, and I thought I was like a slam contender afterwards. Yeah, I think that's just what my mind was being a naive kid, so yeah.

Q. Just wanted to ask you about your next opponent, Jodie Burrage. Do you remember playing her before? Do you know her at all? What do you kind of think about that?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I didn't remember playing her, but it's not nothing to her. I barely remember, like, who I play. Honestly before when I was looking at my head-to-head with Sofia, I forgot I played her in Auckland. I'm just not good at that. I saw I played her on grass I think.

Yeah, I know she was a little bit injured I think last year. I got confused. She had, like, a pretty good 2023 season, I think, and then she got injured last year. I got confused with the years.

Yeah, I haven't watched her play recently, so I think that's something I have to look on, but obviously I think she's -- if you are here, you're a tough player. Yeah, she's going to have nothing to lose against me, but hopefully I can play some good tennis and be able to get through that.

Q. I think a lot of people enjoyed seeing the top men and women players against each other at United Cup in mixed doubles. I'm curious, how did you enjoy mixed? Also, how satisfying is it to break down a male player from the baseline or see your serve not come back against him?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it was super fun. Playing the mixed, it was super fun. Yeah, it is satisfying, but I guess it's not, like, as big of -- people think online that it's this big of a gap. I mean, it is obviously, but I have played baseline points with guys. Sometimes I win.

Sometimes I played against are Frances and won and a couple of times against him. Same against Chris. I practiced with Taylor a couple of times at United Cup, and he was, like, Oh, that was one of the best hits I've had.

Honestly when we add serve and other factors into it, then the gap becomes apparent. When you are just doing cross court-cross court rallies and volleying, yeah, it's kind of like not that big of a difference in mixed doubles in that kind of format. Obviously if you play a full match, then yeah.

It was fun and satisfying. For me the most satisfying honestly when I was playing Felix, and he was rocketing forehands at me, and I was volleying them back. I don't know. I just felt good.

I don't think a lot of the guys know that I was a good doubles player at one point in my career. So I can volley the ball back. Yeah, that was kind of the game plan. All the guys were just trying to hit as hard as they could to the girl, but honestly I think some of us were volleying better than the guys. I for sure was volleying better than Taylor, but he definitely was serving better than me.

Q. It definitely looked like you had the most doubles history on the court?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, we got in a few not arguments, but I have to get him to listen to my side of things (laughing). But, yeah, he plays like a typical singles player in doubles. It was fun.

Q. You hit 12 aces today, and Kenin statistically gives up a lot more. She gets aced a lot more than other opponents. I wonder if you see things when you are playing her or if your coaches knew there would be openings for aces? And, also, if you generally can speak about if certain players you know are easier to hit aces against than others?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, well, before prepping my match, they didn't prep me on that, saying she's easier to get ace. Yeah, going into the match, I didn't really know that, I guess. It makes sense.

I did notice that she was guessing a lot on my serve, so I think obviously when a person starts guessing, it's kind of like you feel good because it's kind of like they don't know where you are serving.

So, yeah, I mean, I've always known her to be a good returner, so I never knew there was that stat against her. Yeah, I think today, I don't know, I just felt like she was guessing. I did a good job of mixing my serve up, especially on the deuce side. I don't think she knew. Sometimes I barely knew where I was serving.

Q. Just a quick one on the on-court coaching. I'm just wondering what your vibe is on the coaching part? Are players talking about it? Where do you sit?

COCO GAUFF: I know some players don't like the on-court coaching, which for me I think it's fine to be allowed because it's, like, you have the choice if you want to be coached or not.

I think it's good. I like this format better than I think a couple of years ago when the coach had to come on court and, like, one time a set or something. I think that was just like a little bit weird. I like that you can just say what you want when you want.

For me it's fine, and obviously my coaches, I gave them the decision if they wanted to sit in the box or on courtside. I didn't know what they were going to choose until I walked out on court, and I saw them in the box.

I'm the type of person, I don't talk a lot to the coaches, but I do like to get advice. I am a fan of it, but I definitely like the way it is now instead of having like the on-court coaching where they come on court. Then everybody can hear what's being said, so yeah.

Q. Is there any worry, though, that we're potentially opening the door for I guess more interaction between opposition teams and players because obviously they're very close to you when you are at the baseline?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, no, because if you are respectful, they aren't really saying anything to you while you're on that side, and I don't say anything to them. Yeah, I've never had that personal experience on court where they bother me.

I will say at United Cup it was a little bit weird because I put my towel right next to the bench. It was just awkward not wanting to look at the opposing team, but I don't think there will be any crazy stuff unless people are being disrespectful.

I think most of the teams on tour are pretty respectful. I don't think that will open it up for that.