THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2026

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/C. Liu

6-3, 6-7, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Coco, tough match today, but you're through. Give us your thoughts on the match.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it was a tough match, but I'm happy to go through. I mean, I had chances to definitely make it a little bit more straightforward. Just learn from 'em.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about what wasn't working late in the second set in particular.

COCO GAUFF: It wasn't, like, too much wrong. I mean, she played a good returning game at 5-3. I think I could have maybe placed my serves better. I was hitting it hard body to her. She was catching the balls pretty well.

Then at the 5-4 game, I think just too passive on the match points. I gave myself opportunities to get the match points, I think I had like three or four, I don't know how many. So it's like I did the right things to get in that position. Once I got in that position, I just need to take advantage of it.

Q. At the French Open you were talking about wanting to be more aggressive in closing out those points. Considering this win, the hard-fought win in the previous round, do you feel like you're making progress in that?

COCO GAUFF: I think so. I mean, the last matches definitely I was aggressive with my serve the entirety of the match. Today I felt like on the third set I was swinging a bit more freely.

I don't know, it was tough, too, because my opponent, Claire, she plays really low and flat. It was really tough. If you aren't getting your first strike on the ball, it's tough to find it in a rally.

I definitely don't think the end of the second was how, if I would have lost it, I mean, I did lose it, but not how I would have liked to lose it.

I definitely think the third set I was able to make those adjustments.

Q. You have bigger goals than making the second week of a Grand Slam, but do you allow yourself to feel good about it, pat yourself on the back for getting to the second week after going out early in Paris?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, definitely wouldn't have thought third round French and fourth round here. Definitely reverse results.

I've been in the fourth round a couple times here. I'm really hoping to get over the next step and make it to the quarterfinals here. That would be a big accomplishment for me, I think.

But yeah, I'm definitely happy just to be in the second week of this tournament.

Q. Anything happen to your brain when you get to the midway point and you start to get to the point where the locker room is a little more empty?

COCO GAUFF: Uhm... I mean, I think it's like the business end, for sure. You're playing opponents who are higher ranked, usually used to being in that position. Sometimes I feel like some matches I win is just off experience alone. I know no one can rely on it.

It's definitely easier moving around on the site and stuff when there's less people. I definitely strive to make it towards the end of the week.

I don't know, actually, because today I had to spend a long time trying to find a table to eat before my match. Hopefully, the next round will be a little bit easier. It is kind of funny just seeing the locker room thin out, the gym thin out.

But I like it.

Q. In general, how are you feeling about your game in totality, also specifically about your serve?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, I don't know. I feel like I played great in some moments and not so great in others. I guess that's tennis. I definitely would like to play a little bit better.

But I don't know, I feel like it's just because this isn't a surface I'm always comfortable on. I'm really just trying to learn and see what works for me. I feel like today I didn't necessarily stick to the things that were working to get me the lead.

Then the serve, I mean, I was going for my serve today. I wasn't quite landing them as I did the first match. I had a bunch of aces the first match. I also played a better returner. I couldn't always just go hard body because she was catching them really well. I think I can put in some more variety on my serve, for sure.

But then again, my serve did get me out of some tough games, too. I think it's just one of those days that I have faith in my serve, I've been serving well, and I just need to maybe mix it up a little bit more.

Q. Does it feel a little liberating to go for your serve like that rather than maybe trying to think, I need to get it in?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, for sure. I mean, there was no serves today that I was hitting that I was, like, I need to get it in. I was trying to just be aggressive to a big target on the second serves. The first, I was going for my shots.

I think it's better when I'm playing that way. I think the girl gets less looks on my serve. I'm also getting more free points. I definitely think my first-serve percentage could have been higher today. Maybe I could have mixed in some more slices, just different targets instead of always going big.

I definitely do think that when I'm going big, I do have faith that I'm going to connect eventually, because I know I can always get my serve in.

Q. Do you think that helps the rest of your game in a way to be positive?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, for sure, I definitely do. A, I feel like most of the time when my first serve does go in, I'm getting a weaker reply. I think it's much easier to start the points off when you're on the offensive than if you just get it in and you're hoping the girl misses. At this level, it's not going to happen, especially now in the second week.

Q. Can I ask about your brother who is getting some headlines because he's in the MLB draft. Obviously he's been tracking your career. Do you watch baseball? Do you know who is going to draft him, who has big picks this year?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, honestly, I don't really watch the MLB too much. I've been to some games. It's not something I'll follow until the World Series.

My brother, I go to his games when I'm in town. I go to all the ones that I'm able to go to. It is a bit of a slower, more boring sport. If he wasn't playing, I don't think I would be watching as much.

I grew up around it. My grandparents had like a nonprofit Little League. I was calling the games, doing the score for some of the games. I know pretty much all the rules and stuff.

When it's a good game, it's great. I prefer to watch it live. I don't know how I'm going to be doing when he goes to college. I don't know what his situation actually is going to be. I guess it depends on his draft pick and everything.

It's my brother, so I'm going to watch. I definitely think he gets more enjoyment watching tennis than I do watching baseball.

Q. Can you score games still?

COCO GAUFF: I haven't done it since I was 12 or 13 years old. I feel like I can. If you give me the notebook, I feel like I'll remember.

Q. When there's famous family members in sports, quite often a woman athlete who is the daughter of somebody, does that give you any pride, like, That's my little brother?

COCO GAUFF: It is funny, because they were announcing. And everybody was like, the son of... I'm glad that they can say, like little brother.

Sometimes I get annoyed 'cause it's like, You don't have to bring me up all the time. I have nothing to do with his baseball.

I'm not going to lie. My brother's not the most expressive person. I read the article. He was saying like he really looks up to me a lot and watches my work ethic and things like that.

I never heard him say that to my face, which he probably never will. It was sweet to hear that and know that, 'cause I do try to be a good role model for them.

It's sweet to know the things I try are working.

Q. What do you think of the habit or tactic of players that try to rouse the crowd? Do you think that's something that people do consciously? Is it spontaneous? Does it bother you?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, when I've done it, I've never done it on purpose. Sometimes you hit a good shot, you're like, You're not loud enough. Sometimes you're playing a match, you feel like the crowd is a little sleepy. It is like, C'mon, get back into it.

I think it's great. It is like you get the fans involved. If they're on your side, I'll use it. There's such a thing as home-court advantage and favorite-player advantage. I definitely think some people probably use it strategically. I'm always going to lean on the side of the things that are outside the box and stuff. I think it's great when players do it.

I think the fans like it, too. When I'm watching any other sport, when they look at the fans and start going like this, I'm standing up, too, yelling.

I think it's good.

Q. It's quiet in tennis during the point, so...

COCO GAUFF: Do I think it affects the match?

Q. Yes.

COCO GAUFF: I mean, yeah. It can help create momentum, for sure. I played my US Open final, and Aryna said it affected her a little bit. I definitely think it helps sometimes.

Also, when you're playing an opponent who is maybe used to it, been in that circumstance multiple times, then maybe not. It for sure helps the person who needs some outside energy.

I think it helps me, yeah.