WTA FINALS

October 31, 2025

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Can you talk about how it feels to be at the WTA Finals here in Riyadh as defending champion.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I'm really happy to be back, have the opportunity to defend the title. Yeah, I'm feeling really good and excited for this upcoming week.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Roland Garros champion, back at the WTA Finals. How would you assess your entire year?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it's been ups and downs. I think anytime you make it to this stage, I think it's a positive year. Top eight in the world. I think there's a lot to be proud of and a lot of areas where I wish I could have done better. It's part of life. Hopefully I can improve on that next season.

Q. Only three women have repeated the WTA Final championship this century. Why is it so hard?

COCO GAUFF: I think, A, it's one of those tournaments you're not guaranteed a spot in every year. Some people win and aren't able to even qualify. B, the top eight in the world, it's very hard to I think win this tournament in general, let alone replicate it back-to-back years.

But yeah, I'm not thinking about that. I really just want to focus on my first match ahead and take it one match at a time. I think that's what I did last year. Going to try to keep that mindset.

Q. You mentioned your first match against Jessica Pegula, who you know pretty well. How does that familiarity shape the way that you will approach this one?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it's always tricky playing her, but especially since we played so recently I think that she's going to know what to expect, and vice versa.

The things that I necessarily probably did really well in that match that got me that win may not work in this match because you probably could recognize those things, as well, capitalize off of it.

Yeah, I think it's one of those matches that you have your game plan, but you have to be able to adjust because she might know my game plan already.

Q. Along with Jess, there are four Americans in this year's Finals. First time this has happened in 25 years. What does it mean to you to be here with such a strong contingent of U.S. players?

COCO GAUFF: It means a lot to see American tennis, like, at the top. I think it's an honor to be amongst these women. They've all worked very hard to be here. People that I've watched before I came or played with as juniors. It's really cool to be a part of this group.

I hope a lot of girls in the U.S. are inspired by this. Also in the men, I think it's the first time two men have qualified for a long time, as well.

I think American tennis overall is doing great. Hopefully one of us can take home the trophy.

Q. Obviously by winning last year here, do you feel like the conditions of the court are pretty much similar to what it was? Any changes? Would you for somebody who is working on technique right now think that technique might be more important than tactics or not at all?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think the court is playing similar I would say to last year. I'm also, like, obviously not very good at remembering things. So I don't know (smiling).

I think it's both. I mean, obviously in the practices, working for the long-term future, technique is something always on the top of my mind as of late. When you get on the court, you want to go out there and focus on your game plan. It's probably not going to be necessarily something I actively think about when the matches come.

Q. One of your biggest achievements was being the No. 1 WTA on-court style queen.

COCO GAUFF: I didn't know that.

Q. That's my opinion.

COCO GAUFF: Okay (laughter).

Q. Many people would agree.

COCO GAUFF: Okay.

Q. Which were your favorite Grand Slam outfits? Do you have much input into the designs? Is there anything in particular you're excited to be wearing in 2026?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think one of my favorites is Wimbledon. I think also Australian Open because I did a little better at that tournament. Wimbledon this year I think was cool. I don't think it's been really done before in the sport. I would say that one.

Next year I'm looking forward to my Wimbledon outfit, as well.

Yeah, I have input on the designs.

Q. For the past two or three years tennis has been having a big moment coming into pop culture. There's not a single designer that doesn't have a tennis line right now. Do you think tennis is doing enough to benefit from this moment? If you had any ideas of what more can be done to get more into pop culture...

COCO GAUFF: If I have to give my honest answer, no, I don't think that tennis is doing enough to benefit from that, considering I've gotten the lucky chance to meet so many celebrities because of tennis, how many are actively really into it, know everything. Couple people I've met doing book clubs on the sport, people you wouldn't expect.

Yeah, I think there's some more that we can do. I mean, me being like a (indiscernible), I think the TikTok audience can be reached a lot more. TikTok is one of those's that just transcends everything and makes connections.

We have users who are making fashion TikTok. We have tennis influencers doing their things. That's just done on their own. We can do more as a sport of capitalizing off of it, marketing it.

Yeah, I mean, I don't think it's necessarily the players' job. I feel like that part of doing the job, I just saw Jannik did Gucci. We're doing as a player good jobs. I think the tours and slams can capitalize off it more.

Q. Happy Halloween. Are you wearing a costume?

COCO GAUFF: I didn't. This year I'm really bad. I didn't bring one. This year was not a great Halloween year for me. I'm just too busy.

Q. Could you put into words any of the technical changes that Gavin has helped you make?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, in as little words as possible, it's just working on making my motion a little bit more fluid and making the balance of the motion a little bit, I guess, more fluid, not falling forward as much. Just working on creating a motion that under pressure it doesn't collapse.

Q. This year the four Grand Slams have been won by four different players. What is your take on this in terms of the competitiveness on the tour? How do you feel coming back to defend your title in Saudi Arabia again?

COCO GAUFF: The first one, I think it's honestly great to have four different champions. All the girls have had a competitive year across the year. I think that it makes the sport more exciting when there's multiple chances for something to happen.

Carlos and Jannik are being great. There's talk about there needing to be a third person to make it more interesting. I think it's better to have different champions than the same two.

Also I don't want to downplay the rivalry they have going on. It's great and exciting for the sport. I'm thinking long-term it's more exciting for me as a fan watching the semis and quarters not knowing who is going to win, whereas knowing who is going to win. That just shows how great they are.

To be back in Riyadh was very cool. I was surprised last year when I won that title. I wasn't expecting it. To come back here, having that experience last year means a lot, and I'm happy to be back.

Q. The work you're doing with Gavin, it seems to me that you're doing a lot of first, second serve, more of a kick with spin than the flat, harder serve. Is this a decision you've made to work on that serve, because the second serve is more the issue that you've been having?

COCO GAUFF: Yes and no. I think sometimes tactically. At first I don't think I had much of a weapon on my kick. Now it's become more of a weapon. More girls don't like that serve. I try to incorporate it more. That's really the only reason. We're kind of tug of war because I prefer to hit flatter and harder serves. I like to go for the ace.

Depending on the court conditions, you can't always use the serve with who you're playing. Maybe if I'm playing somebody a bit taller, I won't use it as much.

I think it's a good tactic to use, make my serve as much variety as the men kind of use in their serve. They use the kick a lot. They can hit it hard, use a lot of spin. Try to develop that mentality more.

Thank you.