THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2025

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

D. YASTREMSKA/C. Gauff

7-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Coco, tough loss for you. Give us your thoughts.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, obviously disappointed how the result went today. Dayana started off playing strong. Yeah, I think I couldn't find my footing out there today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How much of this do you chalk up to grass being not the greatest environment for you, and how much to just it's been a hell of a few weeks since Paris?

COCO GAUFF: I think a little bit of both. I don't know. I feel like mentally I was a little bit overwhelm with everything that came afterwards, so I didn't feel like I had enough time to celebrate and also get back into it.

But it's the first time in this experience of, like, coming off a win and having to play Wimbledon. I definitely learned a lot of what I would and would not do again.

But yeah, I mean, also she played great. I mean, I saw the draw and knew it would be a tough match for me. I mean, I think obviously I played her on clay, and I think that surface suits me a little better. It was still a tough three-setter. Yeah, I knew today would be tough.

I had chances, but yeah, it is what it is.

Q. You said you learned a little bit about what you might do differently. Obviously you're fresh off the court, but what stands out immediately as to what you would like to have done differently?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think I would say whether I would play Berlin or not again, if that were to happen with French Open, just 'cause I only practiced two days.

I don't know, I just feel like the surface I maybe could have used more matches. It's like finding the puzzle. I don't like to play the week before. It's a quick turnaround, so I think just trying to learn on whether it's better to train more and maybe play Bad Homburg or Eastbourne.

I think when that time comes around again o if it comes around again, I'll approach it differently. I don't think it was all that either. I mean, like I said, Dayana played great. I felt like I wasn't playing terrible in some points, and she was hitting winners.

Yeah, so I think it's a combination of everything. But I definitely think I feel like this tournament for me is also based off of my first-round match and my draw and having somebody that can strike the ball as well as she can is definitely difficult coming in.

Q. You were originally supposed to be on Centre Court, third match of the day. When you did you find out you were changing courts? Did that affect your preparations for the match?

COCO GAUFF: Not necessarily court change, but obviously I was preparing to play a little bit later. I found out about 6:35 that we would not be before 7:30. At that point I hadn't really eaten yet. I was trying to hold off because I thought maybe we were going after Novak.

I don't think it really affected the match today, to be honest. I've played with quick turnarounds and things like that. Yeah, I figured we would be moved at some point, but we don't know. But I definitely don't think the court change affected the way the match went.

Q. Is there something you think you can address minorly to make grass better for you, or is this just always going to be a tricky proposition to play a big flat, first-striker hitter on a quick grass door, indoors too?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, definitely serving better. I mean, when I can serve well, and some games I did, it's definitely an added threat. I think I didn't serve that well.

Yeah, I mean, obviously I have to be able to counter that and also be as aggressive too as she is at times. I think it's just changing my playing style a little bit, which is difficult, 'cause for me it's like I approach clay and I play this one way for however long clay season is, six to eight weeks, or I don't know. Then I feel like when I go on hard, I don't have to change as much, but I still have to adjust it a little bit.

I know on grass I do. I feel like by the time I find it, it's already time to play. It's difficult, but I don't know. I have faith that if I can make these adjustments, I can do well here. I really do want to do well here. I'm not someone who wants to write myself off grass this early in my career, but I definitely need to make changes if I want to be successful here.

Q. I know you're focused on yourself. There's been a lot of high seeds on both the men's and women's side who have lost. Were you conscious of that at all? There is no formula to success whether you play a tournament the week before or not. Do you see anything? Is the heat making grass play differently? It's a bit jarring from the outside, but it could be that it's unrelated.

COCO GAUFF: I feel like historically Wimbledon always has so many upsets first rounds here, to be honest. I think it's always a topic. I mean, I think I would say really the quick turnaround most of the seeds are going deeper in Roland Garros, and then you spend like a long clay season, and then you have to come and try to adjust to grass.

Like you said, some people play the week before, but it's like you come here. I think Jess won on Saturday. She's lucky that she was on this side of the draw to play on Tuesday. It's not the easy, quick turnaround.

Then if you go deep in Roland Garros, you're debating on do I rush and play that week, or do I take time and play the week before? It's a tricky thing.

It seems like Carlos and Novak are the ones to figure it out. Even he had a tough first-round match. Yeah, I think it's just a combination of everything. I don't know if it's just the conditions this year. I really just think it's that in this turnaround, I think this slam out of all of them is the most prone to have upsets because of how quick the turnaround is from clay.

Q. Many feel one of your strengths is that even though your still a young person, you really put things in perspective. You're just off court from a loss, but can you step back and look at your European swing in general, put it in perspective? What are your thoughts about that overall?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, I'm trying to be positive. After the match, I definitely was struggling in the locker room. I don't like losing.

Yeah, I think for me the main thing I'm sure my team and everyone is going to tell me, You did well at Roland Garros, don't be so upset, things like that.

I don't really like losing. I don't know, I just feel a little bit disappointed in how I showed up today. I feel like I could have been a little bit better in those tough tiebreaker moments, especially after Roland Garros, where I felt like I learned a lot in those tiebreakers.

Yeah, I mean, obviously I'm not going to dwell on this too long because I want to do well at US Open. Maybe losing here first round isn't the worst thing in the world because I have time to reset.

Yeah, definitely sucks (tearing up).

Q. In terms of the nature of going from Roland Garros to Wimbledon, do you think you have a new appreciation for some of the players that have managed to win both?

COCO GAUFF: Oh, yeah, I mean, even before this I've always had appreciation for people who win any Grand Slam.

Yeah, it's definitely hard. Yeah, I mean, obviously if you can do this, you're great. I would love to one day be able to accomplish that. If not, I just want to do well at this tournament one of these years.

Thank you.