US OPEN

September 5, 2026

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/C. Bucsa

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Coco, congratulations. Straight sets. 90 minutes. Your thoughts?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think Cristina is a tough opponent, a tough player, so I was a little bit frustrated out there, but overall, just happy with how I was able to close that second set after getting broken.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Not necessarily applying to today at all, but the other day Frances spoke for a bit about being in a flow state on the court, being in a comfortable time, in a zone, and feeling as though things are going to go right. What is it like to be in that sort of state of mind, and how do you get there?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, honestly I think for me it's not something that you just try to get to. I think the only thing you can do is keep the same routines and try to prepare yourself the best way.

But for me, it's an unexplained feeling that some days you just step on the court and you're not -- you feel like you're not going to lose, and I've had those experiences before. Every time I felt like that, I haven't lost.

So it is a weird thing, and sometimes you just feel it from the warm-up. Sometimes you reach a point in the match where you just feel really good.

I mean, for me it was 4-All, that return game was probably the best game I had that match, which for me there weren't many. I think that's when I hit flow state.

Yeah, there's been a few matches where -- or tournaments where I just felt really good on the court, for sure.

Q. The place where I feel like I'm in a flow state is the Cheesecake Factory, so I just wanted to ask you about the TikTok that you posted about it. Do you know where you're going to go next? What you are going to order the next time you're here? What is your typical Cheesecake Factory order?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, honestly, I don't really go there that much. When we were in China, though, we went, like, all the time, because it was, like, the place I felt comfortable with just allergies that I have and stuff, so I have to be careful.

But I usually get I think it's the Cajun. I don't know if that's the exact name, but the Cajun kind of pasta. I think that's the name. I don't know, but it's really good. I was eating that every day when I was in China.

But I haven't had that salmon mashed potato-like situation. It looked so good, and last night I was just -- I couldn't scroll without seeing it, and I went to Uber Eats to see if I could order it. I don't think they have Uber Eats Cheesecake Factory here, because it didn't come up.

I'll get it when I get home, and I've never been to Cheesecake Factory at home, so it will be my first time going.

Q. (Off microphone.)

COCO GAUFF: I actually don't go for the cheesecake. Well, I don't know. Is that rude to say I'm not a huge fact of the Cheesecake Factory cheesecake? I like their entrees and stuff, and the fried macaroni cheeseballs, those are good.

But the cheesecakes are a little bit too big, and I prefer more crust, and they have too much of the cake part, so yeah.

That is such a non-athlete thing, okay (laughing).

Q. Is it okay if I ask about tennis?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, that's okay (laughing).

Q. Can you expand on what you were finding frustration from today?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, I think Cristina is just -- I've played her before, and I felt a similar way. I think we played at Indian Wells, and I felt similarly. Honestly, I just didn't really remember feeling frustrated until I got on court.

Some players, you mentally prepare. You're, like, This is going to be one of those matches. I don't know if I did that too well today. I think I came in expecting it to be another way, because we hadn't played a long time.

Yeah, I think she just does a good job of changing the pace. She can get a lot of balls in, really force her play -- or force her to make errors. She doesn't make too many unforced errors. I think that was the frustrating part.

Also, it was my first day match, so just getting used to those conditions. So it was like a factor of things.

Q. There have been so many upsets so far in this tournament on both sides of the draw. I mean, today was crazy with the Americans between Taylor, Amanda, and Madison's match. Is that something that you take notice of, and does it make you keep your guard up a little bit more?

COCO GAUFF: I don't think it necessarily affects how I play or how I go in, because I go in every match, like, thinking I'm going to get upset. I don't know if that's healthy or not (laughing). It's something that you pay attention to.

Like, obviously Taylor was before me, and it sucked to see him go down. I saw Madison's match and Amanda, too. To be fair, they all played really high-quality level opponents. It's just tennis. Some days just don't go your way.

But I feel like the tour on both sides has so much depth. So honestly, yeah, it's an upset, but really amongst the players, you're like, Well, it's not really that surprising. I guess numbers-wise for you guys it may feel that surprising.

Q. Do you really feel like you're going to get upset before every match?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, I prepare myself for the possibility.

I mean, no, I go into every match believing I can win and stuff, but honestly, I think it's a healthy -- for me, a healthy mindset personally, because I don't put too much pressure on myself, Oh, I have to win this match, because I'm this much higher ranked than my opponent.

I go into every match, like, no, all these women on tour earned their spot in, and being top 100 and making main draw of a slam is not an easy feat. For people online, yeah, I guess I'm No. 4, I should win, blah, blah, blah, but that's not the truth.

We're all competitors, at the end of the day, and we were all that lower-ranked player at some point in our career. So, yeah, upsets are a thing, but at the end of the day, anybody can lose.

Yeah, I go into it with that mindset, and I think, if anything, it makes me have my guard up all the time, which makes me play better.

Q. Can you talk about your relationship with Alexandra Eala. I think you played doubles together at the Italian Open. As someone who carries the hopes of the American nation on your shoulders, can you empathize with what she has to cope with the Filipino massive support that she gets?

COCO GAUFF: No, I can't empathize at all, because she's the first, like, the first Filipino player to break a lot of the barriers that she's done, especially on the female side.

When you speak of athletes from the Philippines, she's doing similar things like Manny Pacquiao was doing for her country.

I'm lucky to be from the U.S. where we had a lot of icons to look up to and people who have already broken down doors for me to be here where I am, so I can't really empathize in that aspect.

I think the only way I can is maybe the hype of everybody expecting you to win every single match. I guess I can't empathize on that standpoint, but I definitely think she probably has more pressure. Well, I don't know, from the outside looking in, has more pressure.

As far as our relationship, Alex and I are friends. Her family just reminds me so much of mine. She has a brother, and both her parents are usually with her at tournaments. She's just such a cool, nice girl and someone I would like to get to know even more.

We just went for dinner for the first time actually in, where were we, Toronto, and I got to know her a little bit more then. Obviously we played doubles together, but I have a lot of respect for her and what she's doing.

But, yeah, I can't really empathize. I feel like she has more pressure than I do.

Q. I think you're talking about the Cajun jambalaya pasta chicken.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, that one (laughing).

Q. It's one of my favorites, also. I wanted to ask because you play the winner of Jovic and Eala next, I'm curious for you what has it been like having more players your own age or closer around? It was not the thing for you for a lot of years on tour. You were sort of the baby of the group in some ways, and now people are catching up who are your age. How does it feel socially and everything to have more people from your generation around that you get to be friends with and stuff like that?

COCO GAUFF: It feels so much better. Honestly, I felt really lonely the early years on tour. I was, like -- people were nice, but I was just way too young to go out. Like, no one could relate to a 15 -- a 20-year-old doesn't want to go out with a 15-year-old. I mean, me at 22, I don't want to do that now either, so I completely understand (laughing).

It just feels good socially having people I can text if you want to hang out, go to dinner, do something and it not feel awkward. I feel much happier now I think at this phase on tour just having people around my age being successful. We can all share the ups and downs together.

So it's definitely something I appreciate now more. I just do feel generally, like, happier on tour.

Q. There was a moment in your frustration today when you took a ball and kind of banged it against your head a few times. I just kind of was -- Madison hit her head with her racquet strings today. I don't know if you have ever seen the famous video of Mikhail Youzhny --

COCO GAUFF: The one that he bled? Yeah, I've seen that.

Q. Have you noticed players sort of taking out things more on themselves lately? Was it your idea to use the ball rather than a racquet, sort of a conscious way to let out your frustration without hurting yourself?

COCO GAUFF: It's definitely not something I want to do. My team hates when I do that, and I hate it too, so I definitely don't encourage it.

I did win I think, like, eight points in a row after that, so I don't know, but I definitely -- I think sometimes we don't want to break a racquet, and in hindsight in our heads we may think it's better, but I think it's worse to hit yourself.

I think I should just break the racquet, honestly, and just take the fine. I definitely think it's something that I should not do. I don't think it's a good thing. I can't speak for other players, but definitely it's not something that I want to do.

I mean, I will say with the ball it doesn't hurt. I have done it with the racquet before. Don't do that. With the ball it doesn't hurt as bad, but it's definitely not something -- if you're a kid, don't do that, and I'm going to work on myself to not do that anymore when I'm frustrated.

Q. I want to ask about Luisa Stefani. Five years ago when you made the doubles final, you had a semifinal match with her, and she suffered a traumatic --

COCO GAUFF: She tore her ACL, yeah.

Q. She's back on tour now, back with Gabriela, as well. What are your memories of that moment when it happened, and have you contacted her during her recovery and/or recently now that she's back on tour and back towards the top of doubles again?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I remember that. I think obviously. Luisa is a nice person, and I think that was her second major surgery. I don't know if that was the first time something like that happened.

I remember seeing it. It was so upsetting to see. I had never seen an injury like that up close.

Yeah, definitely not a way you want to win a match or even see happen to another athlete. I mean, me and her, we don't really -- we talk in the locker room, but we don't really keep in touch with each other, but she's super nice.

When she came back on tour, I think it was like a year ago or so or two. She's had, like, a few injuries, but I did say, like, it's good to see her back and back playing.

I think she's such a talented player, probably one of the better, if not one of the best hands on tour, I think, between her and Taylor.

I hate playing against them in doubles, but yeah, it's good to see her back healthy. I wish her all the best.