THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 27, 2026

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. How would you describe your relationship with grass courts?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, we don't have the best relationship.

But no, I always have, like, fond memories on the grass. I obviously had a couple fourth rounds here. I definitely think that I have the ability to play on it. I think it's more about the confidence.

Also, I'm not going to lie, I haven't about the best draws here at Wimbledon. I think that's also been tough. Yeah, something that I'm learning to play on. I don't think it's a natural surface for me, but we're going to make it natural (smiling).

Q. Very serious questions. As a fan of Love Island, what do you make of the bromance between Zach...

COCO GAUFF: They definitely have their heated 'islandry' I think going on.

Yeah, if they like it, I love it, but it's definitely funny to see them together and how that unfolded so fast (smiling).

Q. How are you going to make grass natural?

COCO GAUFF: Just keep playing on it. Trial and error, just learning. I definitely think I've been practicing so far the best I've had since playing Wimbledon. Does that mean I'm going to play great on Monday? I don't know, I hope so. I think just really focusing on the footwork, the game style, and really trying to find my grass identity.

Q. Any adjustments?

COCO GAUFF: I think going for my serve more is something I regret maybe not doing as much of Roland Garros. Obviously on grass it can do more damage. I think that's another thing I've been trying to work on the last couple of weeks.

Q. You played Venus on Centre Court when you were 15. How do you think Maya can and should approach that match?

COCO GAUFF: When I was in that position, I didn't look at scoreboard the whole match. I did not want to see Venus' name.

No matter how much you try to block it out, I feel like once you see the name, it makes seem everything real. Maybe don't look at the scoreboard.

Also you have to go in with the belief you can win and expect that they're going to play great tennis now.

It's different. We haven't seen Serena play in many years, so there's not really much a scouting report you can go off of. I definitely think she has to go in it believing she can win.

Yeah, obviously, I don't know, we haven't seen her play. I don't know how the match is going to be. Anyone playing a Williams sister, I don't know what court they're going to be on, I'm sure it's going to be Centre or Court 1, it's not going to be easy.

Q. How much of an inspiration were they to you?

COCO GAUFF: Oh, the biggest. I played the sport because of them, believed that I could do things because of them. I look up to them a lot. Even when I played them, I'm still admiring. I think that's the only time that's happened to me in this sport.

Q. How long have you been making edits?

COCO GAUFF: Oh, my gosh, I forget. My TikTok story.

I did it three years ago, then I stopped for three years. I just am huge Itara fan. I wanted to make the edit because it didn't exist yet.

Was this like a thing online? Oh, my gosh. I didn't expect it to get to the masses (smiling).

Q. What made you want to do this, having this sort of active Internet side of your life?

COCO GAUFF: The yeah, I just get bored sometimes. Honestly, I just go on YouTube and screen record clips. Sometimes I hear a song, and there should be an edit to this. I'm not as great as I would like to be. It's very meticulous. Sometimes I spend hours on a 20-second edit it, sometimes longer. Definitely doesn't help your iPhone storage.

It's fun. I think I like it. I have a little bit of a nerdy side. I don't think people get to see that sometimes. I created that account. I wanted some of my fans to get it. I didn't want the masses to see it. I guess I didn't realize how popular my TikTok story was.

Q. Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert came out with a documentary. It deals with their rivalry, lifelong relationship. If you think about how do you manage your rivalries with people that you're playing? Is there anyone you look to to model how you want those to play out?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, obviously I didn't really watch, like, growing up them because it was past my generation. Obviously they have a historic rivalry in the sport.

Honestly, I guess I have to watch the documentary because I don't really know how intense it was media-wise. Obviously I know they won a lot, lost a lot to each other. You don't really know, I guess, looking like years from the future, you don't really know how intense the media was until I guess I have to watch that.

I don't think for me I have necessarily something like that right now in the sport. I definitely have some rivals. I don't think it's so one on one like maybe they have.

I don't know. I don't know. It's hard to view something as a rivalry when you're in it just because I feel like everybody's my rival. We're all trying to win against each other.

Q. On the protest, how much time or effort in a week do you put into talking about, talking with Larry, bouncing around ideas?

COCO GAUFF: I think Larry definitely has the most time because he has to speak to all of us either through our teams or us directly. I very commend him for keeping us all updated.

I think us as players are doing a good job just trying to stay on one page with one another, doing what we're comfortable with, but also making sure we're playing a stand.

I will do two more questions, if that's cool with y'all.

Q. What do you think about your first opponent? You have memories about your last match a long time ago?

COCO GAUFF: Honestly, I have to look that up. Honestly, I'm one of those players that don't remember a lot of matches. I remember I spoke to Roger once. He can remember what he did like 20 years ago. I can't remember what I did yesterday.

I will have to look at that match again. I know she had a good run at Roland Garros. I think I have to try to find matches on grass because I feel like everybody plays different on clay.

Can you remind me how the last match went?

Q. It was against her when you won your first title in Linz.

COCO GAUFF: I played her in Linz in quallies? Oh, my gosh, I don't even remember that. Wow. I don't think I'll watch that. That was too long ago. That was way too long ago (laughter). I have to watch her recent matches, to be honest.

Q. On the protest action, it's almost all of the same players that are doing it here as did it in Paris. Alex de Minaur says he supports the action but isn't doing it here because he thinks the 20% increase is good. He wanted to show recognition of that. Did you have any hesitation about doing the same here as in Paris?

COCO GAUFF: No, I didn't have any hesitation. I think for me, we definitely welcome and appreciate the increase. It's still below what happened in 2016, below the 16% that we're ago asking for. Also revenue has been up $280 million over the course of the decade, but the revenue was lower in the decade. I think as the tournament grows in revenue, I definitely think this year should grow.

I think a lot of people maybe online are trying to perceive this is maybe us since the top players are the ones really getting our message out there.

I think people have to remember there are a lot of players below the rankings who are very good, top 100, top 200 in the world of their sport. They come back from injury and are not necessarily getting that support. Also we ask some of the slams to participate in the welfare programs that we want just to help the quality of our sport as a whole.

I definitely think the increase is good, but it's quite not where we would like it to be. That's why my stance has still kind of been the same.

I can't speak for the future. I don't know if that will change or not. But I think as a collective, I am happy. I understand why players maybe not want to participate in it.

Thank you, guys. Sorry. Still love you. You guys know me (smiling).