MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 3, 2025

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/C. Gauff

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Coco, what are positives you take from this great run in Madrid?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, overall there's a lot of positives to take. Obviously disappointed with maybe how I played today. I feel like I could have showed up better. But I went from an 0-6 set in the first round and made it to the final, so happy with that. Obviously hoping for more next time.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. At the beginning Sabalenka was really dominant, and not easy points, but she was winning all the points, but you nearly turned the match around. Eight doubles, too many for against her, or it's because you have to take risk in the second serve?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, she started off strong. I did feel like I had to take some risk on my second serve, so hence the doubles. My first serve percentage wasn't great today, so I think if I had a better first serve percentage it could have been a better match, or at least a better result in that first and second set. My first serve has been such a weapon this week, so just wish I could have served better today.

Q. You've played Aryna now 10 times, I think. Just wondering, when you look at how she's playing right now, her numbers this year are quite crazy also, because like she played eight tournaments, made six finals, won three of them. When you see how she's playing right now, is there anything in particular you feel that she's added to her game that is better than what you know about her?

COCO GAUFF: I feel like she just got a lot better in everything. Probably every time I play her is tough and, yeah, I don't think today she played me any different than the other few, or 10 times we played. Yeah, I think last time we played I was serving better and it went my way.

Yeah, maybe she moves a little bit better, but she's always been tough to play. So, yeah, I think she just probably is more confident, so that's why the consistent results are happening, but she's always been a great player.

Q. I know the conditions here are not the typical clay ones, but can you tell me what kind of confidence you take from this going to the French? I know there's still Rome, but in general can you take something from here heading to the French Open?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think just going after my serve, and I tried to today, just didn't get much in. Also I think I overall from the ground was playing well, and some moments today maybe a little bit too passive.

But speaking on the week as a whole, on the ground I think today was like the only day where I felt really tested, and obviously in my first round, too. So there's a lot of positives to take, and I think especially coming maybe from the last few weeks where I didn't feel as confident on the ground, I think it is a step in the right direction, and just trying to look at the positives of it all. I don't like losing, first final loss since the French Open, so it's a feeling that I know I don't like (laughing).

Q. On the serve, when the first serve is struggling, how much does that bleed into the rest of your game, or does it feel like something that's very separate?

COCO GAUFF: I feel like it's usually separate, but obviously when you're playing against her, she can, you know, create some great shots off your second serve and it kind of goes hand in hand. There's been matches where I haven't served great first serve percentage-wise, but still when I second and I can kick it on these courts, it's tough to return. I think today she just did a great job of taking her chances, and I didn't put enough pressure when she was returning.

Q. On your finals record, we were talking about this before today, this is only the second final you've ever lost in your career, which is pretty crazy. What do you attribute your success in finals to, and is this just a case of maybe at some point you have to lose one?

COCO GAUFF: I hate losing a lot, and especially in finals, because it's like you're so close. I do get ready for these matches and, yeah, I credit it to just how much I hate losing.

I don't know, today was tough, but obviously if I can lose this and go a few more finals undefeated I'll take that. Each time it's a learning experience, and maybe I needed to feel this loss again to be motivated again, even more motivated for the next one.

Q. We went to see Sinners, and I know you saw it twice, what do you like about it?

COCO GAUFF: You didn't like it? (Laughing). Oh, dang. Oh, no. You hated it? Oh, my goodness. I mean, for me it's just the cultural aspect of the movie, and living in the U.S., and being African American I feel like it plays a lot of tones to that, and doing it in kind of a very fantasized way. I don't know, I just like the music, the sound track in it. I love Michael B. Jordan a lot, so that's a plus.

But yeah, I think for me it just makes you realize how far we have come as a people, and makes you kind of also realize, like I'm a huge music lover, and realize how maybe we're all connected through music. In that one scene in the movie, if you've seen it you know what I'm talking about, it just made me feel that love and how we're all connected. But I hope you guys like it. Maybe you watch it on the second time. My parents didn't like it the first time and they liked it second time. So maybe try again, and if not, you know, I'll give you another movie recommendation to make up for it.

Q. The music was really good.

COCO GAUFF: Okay. (Laughing).

Q. I have follow that up, in general you seem like you've become a bit of a cinephile and a big movie fan, how has that happened for you?

COCO GAUFF: For Sinners?

Q. Just becoming a big movie fan.

COCO GAUFF: Oh, movies. I don't know if it was a journey. No, movies, I've always loved movies. I go to movies by myself. I'll see movies twice, three times in theaters. I love cinema, I love that art form. And, I don't know, I feel like you can just take, different people can take different things from that. Yeah, I just appreciate the work actors do, appreciate the work that directors do. And, yeah, if there's movies, I try to see it in person to support that. I'm not a big fan of people releasing movies on streaming because I feel like theaters play an important part of that experience, so I just try to support, especially a movie like Sinners.