AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 16, 2026

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Coco, welcome back to Melbourne. How are you feeling as we head into the first Grand Slam of the year?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I'm really excited to be back here. Yeah, excited to start off the Grand Slam season.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How does it feel to be part of the tribe of more gingers?

COCO GAUFF: It feels good. I thought it would help me out (smiling), considering there's another ginger doing really well. Maybe it will give me some luck because he has a pretty good record here and I don't. So we'll see (smiling).

Q. There's been a lot of attention on your serve, of course, by you mainly. In addition to that, on the forehand, as well. A certain kind of forehand you hit, I guess it's what you do when you're on defense, you sort of like go back and do like a hop-skip kind of thing. Is that something you've always done since you were little? Did you teach it to yourself? Do you know what I'm talking about?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I do. The one where I'm on my back leg?

Q. Yeah.

COCO GAUFF: It's something I work on. I don't know when the first time I hit that shot. So I don't really know.

It is something I work on now, like, making it more consistent and better. I have been doing it for a while. I don't really recall, like, someone ever teaching me it. It just kind of happened.

Sorry, I wish I had a better answer.

Q. You say you work on it.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah.

Q. It's a strategic thing?

COCO GAUFF: No, no, no. It's not a strategic thing. It's when I'm on defense, instead of squatting down, like a lot of girls do, I think with the type of forehand I have, it's just better to do that, which is what most of the guys do.

Yeah, I think it's just the way my swing is, because I do a have a bigger swing. It's better to give myself room than some girls can, like, squat and do it like Kerber. She obviously has a way shorter swing than I do.

Q. Perfectly excellent answer.

COCO GAUFF: Thank you (smiling).

Q. There's an issue about players and prize money, the ratio between revenue and prize money at slams. You were part of the group who spoke about it at the French Open?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah.

Q. How do you feel about that topic at the moment, where it's at, how much the AO is giving in terms of prize money? Are you content with how things are progressing or not?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, from my understanding, they obviously increased the prize money this year. The percentage is still, of revenue comparison, is still not where we would like it.

Yeah, I think there's still further conversations that have to be had, not just with the Australian Open but with all the slams. We have player representatives that have been working really hard to do that a lot for us because we can't do it, be in person as often.

But yeah, I would like to, from my last update, the collective feeling is that, yes, there's been progress, but I still think it's not where we would like to see it. We are grateful for the progress that has been made.

Q. Do you think there will be more engagement this year?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, like engagement from players?

Q. Engagement between players and the Grand Slams.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I imagine that there will be continually more meetings. I think the French Open was, like, the big meeting that, at least I was a part of and that I saw a lot of players also be a part of.

But yeah, I think no one wants this conversation to be continuing for years and years. So I would imagine that we would continue to have those conversations and maybe more pressure being applied with, like, especially the top 10.

Q. I saw you and Morgan Riddle both posted about Heated Rivalry on social media. How did you get into it? Were either of you successful in getting Taylor Fritz to watch it?

COCO GAUFF: I've never talked to Taylor about Heated Rivalry. I don't know. I guess I should have (smiling).

Yeah, but how did I... I don't really know. I just kind of saw people talking about a hockey show, a gay hockey show. That interested me (laughter). I was like, Oh, six episodes, perfect. I just dove, like, right in.

It's such a beautiful love story, I think. I think that was like the main thing. Obviously there's some nice spicy scenes. I convinced my mom to watch it, too. She gave it an 8 out of a 10, which is really high because she watches a bunch of shows.

Yeah, I wanted the world to know about this show. I've been telling everyone. I told Jess Pegula and JuJu to watch it today. We'll see how much of the WTA I can convince to watch the show. Eva Lys has also watched it. I'm their number one fan, I think.

Q. Are you for Team Shane or Team Ilya?

COCO GAUFF: They're, like, the same seem. But my favorite is Ilya on the show, for sure.

Q. I'm interested in your leadership and some of the skills that you have, what you do on the court, how other people can learn from that. Going into a tough draw like this, what are some of the techniques you use to keep your mind on the job and not be distracted by all the stuff around?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think you just realize, I mean, yes, it's a Grand Slam and every Grand Slam you want to perform and do your best, and you want to take advantage of the moment now because tomorrow isn't promised.

I don't know, it's like a fine like of playing like your life depends on it but also not playing like your life depends on it. I try to give it my all, and when I leave the court, just knowing I gave it my all, and regardless of results, I still have things I can look forward to.

I think at the beginning of my career I wrapped myself too much into the results of part of my identity. I no longer do that. I still get disappointed, but it doesn't change the way I view myself.

So, yeah, I think the biggest thing I would recommend to people is just, yeah, just try to play free and know that, you know, everything happens for a reason, and some of my failures in the past I think help me now. I think I appreciate life much more because of the moments that I guess I didn't win or the matches that I didn't get.

Q. You were speaking lightheartedly about your hair, but you made the comment, I haven't done very well here. How difficult is it to walk away satisfied when you've won Grand Slam titles when you don't win one?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it is crazy. Like, I guess, yeah, I should be proud of the semifinal result here (smiling). I was explaining this actually to my friend. I was just like, Yeah, after winning, nothing feels as satisfying as that.

I think the only thing that I would be satisfied with is making a quarterfinal at Wimbledon, because I've lost fourth round so many times. I think that would be, like, the only non-win result I would be completely satisfied. It doesn't mean I'm not proud of myself if I, like, lose. Even the year I lost in the semis, I was proud of that tournament. I think it's more the satisfying feeling is two different feelings.

I am always generally proud of myself in most tournaments, even if I don't do well. Definitely not satisfied unless you win.

Q. Compared to some of your other fellow top players, it seems like maybe you have these ups and downs, highs and lows, even the United Cup. What is that like for you? How much of a goal is it of the year to get more sort of consistency from match to match?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, no, it definitely is a goal to be more consistent. But, I mean, for me, I just look at it as life. There are 25, 26, most areas in life you're a 25-year-old or 26-year-old is more consistent than a 21-year-old. I kind of look at that. But also knowing that I do want to be more consistent. I want to give it my all in each match.

I think it's more so I feel like more that stemmed from like my serve, having good days and really bad days. So I think the more that stroke becomes more consistent, the more my results will become more consistent.

Q. Your first match against Kamilla, again. You played with her in China. How is that preparation going?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, she's a great player, a good baseliner. I remember our match from China was tough first set, then I was able to run with it in the second.

Yeah, I think it will be a tough one. That's all I have to say. I haven't really thought about the match too much yet.

Q. Your thoughts about the 1 Point Slam? Do you hope to redeem yourself next year?

COCO GAUFF: It was really cool. No, I have to redeem myself. I will play, for sure.

I didn't expect to win. I was telling everyone that that was not going to happen. People were like, What are you going to do with the money?

It's not going to me.

I did say I wanted an amateur to win. I think the best-case scenario happened. We had an amateur in the finals versus Joanna, who became like a celebrity overnight, which I think was really cool.

I thought that was cool because you got to hear stories that you would never hear. My only not complaint, but like I watched the qualifying rounds, because my hitting partner was doing it. I think people had to make six rounds to make it Rod Laver. I think that was a little bit a lot. There were a couple cool stories that were from the qualifying rounds that I was there that I wish some people got to see on Rod Laver.

There was a guy promoting paraplegic tennis. No one saw him. There was another older lady who had the best outfit. I think the qualifying rounds for the real amateurs, 'cause there were some fake amateurs, my hitting partner was an amateur and he was 200 in the world.

For the real amateurs, I think they should have a little less strenuous qualifying process. They may not win, but seeing those stories on Laver would be cool.

That was a long answer (smiling).

Q. (Indiscernible.) My question for you is. I wear your shoes. Do you think I can be your doubles partner this weekend?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, for sure. You'd be the best doubles partner. I'll put you at the net.

Q. With your shoes, I have a better chance.

COCO GAUFF: I'm like, New Balance is surprising everybody this week. Okay, I love it.

But yeah, you'll be at the net, for sure.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks, Coco.