THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2026

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/S. Sierra

6-3, 3-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Coco, a battle out there, but you came through. Your thoughts on that match.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it was obviously a really tough match. I think that was my first time doing a 10-pointer in the third. Thankfully. Glad it was that today, because otherwise it would not have been my win today.

But yeah, I think I'm happy with just how I fought and competed. She was playing really big tennis. I was just trying to be aggressive when I could. But really happy with how I served today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Three points away from a loss on Court No. 1. What is going through your mind?

COCO GAUFF: I'm just trying to take it one point at a time. Honestly, Roland Garros I was two points away from winning at one point, so...

For me, I was just thinking about, Okay, I can definitely turn this around. I felt like I was having a lot of chances in the break opportunities. I just wasn't quite converting them. I was just keeping the faith that eventually I'll get my one break. Once I got that, I was able to relax. Obviously a tiebreaker is always nerve-wracking.

I don't know, just keep trying to chop and chop and make the lead not as big of a gap. That was the focus.

Q. About the hotshot, 7-All in the tiebreak. Take us through what was going through your mind during that point, you hit the dropshot?

COCO GAUFF: Obviously, probably not always good to hit a dropshot there. I don't know, at that point, I thought I have to commit and trust myself.

She hit a good shot back. I don't know, I didn't really think, honestly. It was just one of those things that you play doubles, you work on reactions for moments like that. It's not necessarily something you think about, honestly.

My thought was just to get the ball over the net. Really didn't even know what happened, honestly (smiling).

Q. You said it's not something you think about. Did you rewatch that shot since then? Have they told you about it? Do you have a highlight reel of yourself?

COCO GAUFF: I actually didn't even see it yet. So I don't know what I looked like.

Yeah, honestly, we've worked on half volleys and stuff. Because my coach is French, I feel like it's something they like to do and stuff.

I don't know. Really that one came out of, like, my butt, so...

Q. You were three feet behind the baseline.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I know. Honestly, I think I hit a similar shot in practice like last week. It reminded me of that. I think I was practicing with Sorana or somebody last week and I hit, like, a similar shot.

Like I said, probably couldn't recreate it if I wanted to, honestly.

Q. Your next opponent is Claire Liu. I don't know if you remember her. You turned pro, she won the junior title here. Do you know her well? Did you know her when you were coming up?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I knew Claire. She's a bit older than me, so I don't think we ever crossed paths junior-wise.

I played her, like you said, a few times on hard court. She's a great player. I think grass is one of her favorite surfaces. The next match will definitely be tough.

Yeah, I know she quallied in. I feel like anytime you're playing a qualifier, it's always tough because they have three matches already. She won two matches here, so she has a lot more momentum maybe than I have right now.

But I don't know, I feel confident. I feel like today was definitely a big test. Hopefully, you know, on, I don't know what day it is, but two days from now I can play good tennis against her.

Q. Your thoughts on the news of the WTA Finals both leaving Saudi Arabia and arriving in the U.S. at Indian Wells?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I'm really biased, so I'm really happy it's in the U.S. As an American player, I think it's cool. It's going to be weird going to be in Indian Wells in November. I'm very curious if we're going to be playing in the night, day. I hope the day because I feel like it's going to be a little chilly at night.

Obviously I have a great memory in Saudi, playing and winning my title there two years ago. We had a warm reception from them. I think it was really cool just to bring, I think it was the first women's professional tennis event being held there, so it was really cool just to bring a different demographic, or bring our sport to a different demographic who hasn't experienced it before.

Obviously, like I said, biased. It's cool to have it in the States. Definitely would like to see a more permanent home for it. Don't know how long it's going to be in Indian Wells. I'm assuming just this year.

But hopefully eventually we can find, wherever it is, a more permanent home.

Q. Wondering if you watched Serena yesterday? If so, what were your thoughts? What did you make of her level?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I watched basically almost the whole match. I missed the beginning a little bit of the first. I don't know, it's hard to find where to watch matches here. I was at the restaurant, and I had to end my dinner early.

Yeah, I thought she was playing really great tennis. Maya played, like, top-10, top-5 tennis. Obviously she's a great player. I've never played her before, but she was I think top 20 before or close to that. She's a great competitor. She seems like an even, chill girl. I do think if anyone was ready for the moment, it would be her.

I think Serena's level was insane. For me it proves even more how she's the G.O.A.T. Despite, like, age and all that, I don't know how she can play that level not playing for four years. I was already nervous not playing two weeks before this tournament. I couldn't imagine four years.

She's just the G.O.A.T. I just love her. I love her fight. And the serve is unbelievable. It's just crazy. I don't know. I think it's just insane how she can play. You just look at her and you think, like, this is like 10 years ago. I think it's really insane. I think it was cool for the sport.

Obviously congrats to Maya for stepping up and being ready.

Q. You said out on court you listened to the advice of 'just remember who you are.' Can you expand on what that meant in the process on the court?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think sometimes I feel like I have a bit like impostor syndrome. I've talked about this before. Maybe having my success, but sometimes forgetting about it, or maybe thinking I almost don't deserve it a little bit.

I don't know, just reminding myself of the career that I've had so far at 22 is definitely up there with a lot of people. Obviously I have so much ambition to do even more.

I think I just have to remind myself that, yes, the girl I'm playing is tough. Regardless of who it is, it's tough. But I also have to remember that they're probably thinking the same thing about me.

Q. You spoke on court today about this being seven years to the day from the Venus win. What do you remember most about that match specifically and that run in general?

COCO GAUFF: I think that match... I don't know. I think it was one of those blackout matches. I don't remember much from the match. I've literally never rewatched the match over since. I don't know. It just feels, I don't know, it feels sacred in a way, so I don't know if I'll ever.

I think the thing I remember most is just the walk in. They've changed up I think the decor back there on the walk to Court 1. I don't know, I walked it today, it didn't feel that long. Against Venus, it felt so long. I felt like I was walking for ages, and my dad walked with me.

I just remember feeling like a little girl standing next to her. When I stepped on court, I don't know, I didn't feel like a little girl anymore. I think that reminded me of just my competitive spirit.

Q. Aryna Sabalenka was talking about how she would have loved to have brought her dog to the site like at the French Open. Wimbledon has more strict rules. As a player who doesn't at the moment travel with a pet and how you felt about Wimbledon becoming much more dog friendly?

COCO GAUFF: I love dogs. I definitely think there's a place and time for them. I do love them. I mean, this is also different because this is held at a club, which I don't think they allow dogs anyways in general. So I respect the rules.

But I definitely think, like, there's certain places like dogs shouldn't be for safety reasons, like the gym and the locker room, where sometimes I see dogs.

Like I say, I love dogs, but I definitely think there's a time and place.

I don't know. I wouldn't mind them around the site, but I just definitely think, 'cause there's been times where I almost stepped on somebody's dog, almost threw a medicine ball at someone's dog. I don't know, you don't want to hurt an animal. I definitely think in the gym where there's already 50 million players doing a million different things. I mean, last year, I don't want to call out the player, but someone threw a medicine ball at me. If I was a little dog, that would freaking hurt.

In the gym, no. In the locker room, no. Maybe in the food areas no, because of cleanliness.

Everything else, go ahead, be free, run around with your dog. I definitely am someone who when they're in the gym, I feel a bit nervy because there are a lot of them. There's been close calls.

Q. You've shown great skills with a football in the past. Are you managing to keep up with the World Cup?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I try in football. I'm not that great. I'm trying.

As far as watching, I mean, I heard I think England scored, so I heard that.

About the men? I mean, we're getting better. Each year we're getting better. Obviously I believe, I hope we can go all the way.

I don't know. I feel like the other teams are really good, too. It's tough for me to say as someone who doesn't really follow the sport that much.

I do know our women are really good. I'm not going to lie, I'm biased, I do tune into them a little bit more.

I have tuned into the men. I'm really proud of our guys. Hopefully we can keep going and making the sport bigger in the U.S. as a whole.