ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2026

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/M. Sherif

6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Coco, solid performance today. Just talk us through your thoughts on the match and what you're most pleased about.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, the scoreline doesn't show how physical it was, but obviously Maya is a tough player. Yeah, I thought I played well and, yeah, did what I could with how she was playing.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I'm from Egypt, so I'm going to ask about Mayar. In a way she's a little bit underrated in Egypt, because she's not top 10 and all of these flashy things, but she's stayed in the top 100 for five consecutive years, and she's the only one from Egypt doing what she's doing. For people who don't know the sport, can you try and put into context a little bit what it means for you to step on a court against an Egyptian doing what she's doing and just what it means for her to be around?

COCO GAUFF: Well, first, I know she's a tough competitor. I think she got to top 31 in the world, and I played her three years ago in Cincinnati. I knew what to expect and knew it was going to be a tough, physical match.

Yeah, I definitely think she's a bit underrated. She's someone you don't really want to play, especially on clay, because she really makes you earn I think every point more so than anyone I've kind of played this year so far. Maybe between her and Elina have been my most physical matches, despite the scoreline today being a little more straightforward, but we had many long games.

Yeah, what she's doing is incredible, and I definitely think that should be celebrated. It's not easy to be a top-100 player and stay there consistently, and especially now with the depth of the tour. She's a fighter.

Our scouting report before the match, the main thing my coach reiterated was that her biggest strength, literally word what he said, is her biggest strength is her bravery, and it showed today.

Q. I know Chris got the scoop, but I'm curious about your reaction to getting in a car crash a couple of days ago. Actually what was your reaction to it?

COCO GAUFF: I started laughing immediately actually. I felt bad, because obviously the driver was kind of stressed, but it wasn't his fault.

But I just started laughing, because no one got hurt. I knew it wasn't, like, a big deal. So I knew no one got hurt. It was kind of funny because, of course, this is what happens to me before my first round.

I also think one of my shock responses is to laugh. I think some people have picked up on it. So, yeah, that was literally the immediate...

Then I was upset because I've been getting Joe & The juice every day. So I was a bit upset because my juice spilled. I didn't have my complete breakfast like I wanted to.

But, No, I'm just happy it was not a big deal, and it's something I can laugh about.

Q. (Off microphone.)

COCO GAUFF: Well, they told us to wait. No offense to the French. The guy was, like, Ten minutes, but I asked him, Is it a real ten minutes or a French ten minutes? It ended up being a French ten minutes.

So we actually, me and my physio, went and took the taxi, and my parents waited for the car. The car came, like, 40 minutes later. So it was a good move to take the taxi there.

Q. Did you see what Moise Kouame did today?

COCO GAUFF: Of course.

Q. What do you think about his performances at 17 and in front of this crowd?

COCO GAUFF: I think people don't realize how crazy what he did today, playing the first five-setter under a French crowd, up 2 sets to love, and most people, most players, when they lose that lead, can kind of collapse.

He kept fighting, and I think this kid is going to -- well, kid, guy, man -- is going to be a big talent, and he seems like he has a good family around him.

I don't know him really too well personally, but I was rooting for him. Obviously I told him after the match, I was, like, Bro, I wish it was three sets, because I'm here way past what I thought I was supposed to be.

I'm glad that he won, and I'm going to be a fan for him probably for his whole career, for sure.

Q. On the kind of car story and then also the dress getting caught, all that sort of stuff, ahead of a first-round match at the Grand Slam that you're defending, does that just -- can it maybe take the edge off things? I don't know. Maybe you could have gone into it a lot more intense and stressed than maybe you did, and does it last over the course of the fortnight, do you think?

COCO GAUFF: No, I wasn't stressed. I think it definitely does take the edge off, because it just gives you something to laugh about before the day before -- or the day of.

Yeah, I'm someone who doesn't really, like, stress about completely the little stuff, as long as I'm not hungry, then I can get annoyed easily.

Yeah, it was just funny. I was immediately thinking of the racquet situation last year. I was, like, I think I'm going to get through this first round today.

Q. On a less happy topic, I wanted to ask about Hailey and if you have had any chance to reach out to her, and just were your thoughts on it? It was obviously a tough scene yesterday.

COCO GAUFF: It was really sad to see. I got a little emotional just seeing her dad run on the court and stuff and just reminded me of my dynamic with my dad. I know he would do the same.

Hailey is someone that has always been really nice on and off the court, regardless of where she's been in the rankings or regardless of where I've been in the rankings. I think that's something I really respect about her and the work that she's put in.

She's kind of been the underdog throughout her whole life, honestly. She's proved everyone wrong and had great -- or passed all expectations. Yeah, it was tough to see. I did reach out obviously immediately after I saw it and just wishing her the best.

I don't know how the severity of it yet, but I know Hailey, and I know she's resilient, and she's going to come back so strong.

Yeah, it's just unfortunate. You don't want to see that with anyone. Yeah, I wish her all the best.

Q. I just wanted to get your thoughts. Apparently Serena is going to come back and play. I just wanted to get your thoughts on that.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, that would be really cool. I did say one of my biggest regrets was not being able to play her. So, yeah, everybody has been hearing rumors and stuff. So if they are true, I guess we'll find out in a couple days based off the rumors.

We'll see, but I think it would be cool for this sport to have a legend back playing.

Q. Just speaking of racquets, I saw you were putting your racquets in the fridge, right?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah.

Q. I assume it's a tension thing. Can you explain why you're doing it and how long you've been doing it?

COCO GAUFF: That's the first time I did it. I didn't do it today, but yesterday I did it -- or last match I did it because my coach told me, because when I was practicing, he felt like the tension was dropping because of the heat.

So he was, like, Can you put it in the fridge, so it wouldn't be his fault if my racquets were messed up. I did what I was told to do.

Yeah, it was strictly for tension. Today I didn't feel like... it was hotter, but by the time I played, the court was completely shaded, so I didn't feel like I needed to do it today.

Q. (Off microphone.)

COCO GAUFF: Honestly it was so hot. That day the racquet was warm within 5 seconds of taking it out the cooler, so yeah.