US OPEN

September 3, 2026

Coco Gauff

Press Conference

C. GAUFF/P. Badosa

6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Two hard-fought sets. Your thoughts about that.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, honestly, I feel like it was a high level. I don't know what you guys think. I thought it was a high-level match. It was really tough.

Obviously Paula is someone that, you know, we have our battles in the past, and so I knew today would be tough. I'm just happy to get through.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What is your opinion on the role of influencers at the US Open?

COCO GAUFF: Okay. I'm actually going to -- because I was, like, I was low-key about the comment in somebody's comment section, but I was, like, let me not do that.

I think it's great to have a different demographic to the sport, and I think I have no problem with influencers. I have met some of them and follow some of them online. Luckily the ones I do follow online do follow the etiquette and know tennis pretty well.

Yeah, I think it's like any venue you come to, you have to follow the etiquette towards it, and I definitely think -- I think it may be on some of the brands too, maybe to have, like, a sign plastered or something in the suites so that they know. Because, you know, sometimes it's their first tennis match. They don't know. They have probably been to basketball games before.

But I definitely think no flash photography, because that does bother -- and I am one of the more lenient players. There is very few times you hear me complain about noise. The flash, definitely no flash in the points, and try not to talk too loud.

I mean, Ashe is a very loud court so I'm used to it, but definitely not, like, mouthing the TikToks and stuff in the middle of the point. I think it's not just for us, the players, but the viewing experience for those around.

But I definitely think if I have to pick noise over flash, I think no flash because that actually does mess us up a little bit.

I definitely think it's cool to have a new demographic and I definitely think it helps grow the sport. But like with anything, any venue you go to, like if you're being invited to a red carpet, you wouldn't show up in jeans. I think it's just follow the etiquette of the sport. That's all.

Q. With Labor Day coming up, how would you describe the foundation and importance of your work ethic?

COCO GAUFF: That's an interesting question. I mean, I think work ethnic in anything is very important. I think it's the balance of work/life balance.

For me, I like to give my all in every practice and every match and just try to get better each day and just, yeah, getting better little by little.

But as far as, like, Labor Day in general, I'm definitely thankful to all the working Americans, you know, who put a lot of effort just to make the world go round and maybe not getting compensated as much.

I know it's been -- 2026, everything is out the window with prices and everything, so I definitely appreciate, especially the hard-working New Yorkers who, you know, make things happen for this, during this tournament, and, you know, show up with a smile every day.

Yeah, to answer both of your questions.

Q. Well done. You mentioned something on the court about, like, getting tested and enjoying that. I'm curious about that, because is it good to be battle-tested? You prefer that or is it better to, like, be playing so well and just sort of cruising through opponents and having lots of energy stores? If you could explain the flip side to both, that would be great.

COCO GAUFF: No, I think it's good to be battle-tested. I mean, when I won here in 2023, I think I went three sets, I felt like, almost every match.

Honestly, when I saw the draw, I was, like, Well, I lost to Daria a bunch of times, and I lost to Paula a bunch of times. So I knew if I got through my first-round match, the second round was just going to be tough, regardless.

I think for me it's a good confidence booster knowing that I can get through these matches. Obviously, you know, I would prefer maybe not to play somebody I've lost to so many times second round. But I think today was a big confidence booster.

And I think getting through in straight sets too makes a big difference. Yes, I was battle-tested, but I think it was a good battle where I wasn't out on the court for three hours.

Q. Four women could be No. 1 after this tournament. Jess said earlier that when she was younger, she dreamed of being No. 1, not necessarily winning a slam. I wonder what that situation was for you? You have obviously won two slams.

COCO GAUFF: No, it was the opposite for me. I never thought about being No. 1. I think growing up and watching Serena play, and I think I was watching her play -- well, there's no later end to her career, but watching her play maybe where she wasn't chasing -- not chasing, because you don't chase the No. 1, but not playing so many tournaments where it was very clear she was focused on the slams, so I think growing up watching her play, I just always had that mentality.

Yes, it would be cool to be No. 1, but it's not something I have thought about, to be honest. I definitely care, but I don't think you'll see me, like -- I don't think it's something I'll be nervous about, honestly.

If it happens, great. If not, no. I think I'm just more focused on winning slams, because in the day that's what people talk about more in your career than necessarily hitting the No. 1 ranking. Obviously, if you win slams, the ranking will come.

Q. Is it a good thing that four women are going for it?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah. I think it creates added stakes and makes it interesting for the fans. As far as me, honestly, I didn't even really know I was in contention until I think somebody mentioned it to me in Cincinnati or maybe here. I don't remember.

So, yeah, I'm not looking at the rankings. I do sometimes look, like, after US Open, at the live to see if I get into year-end, but not necessarily like, Oh, I'm so close to No. 1, no.

Q. It's this tournament's Pride Night tonight. It has a very different, like, look and very different music playlist than usual. How much do you notice that when you're on court?

COCO GAUFF: No, I was listening a lot. They had Lady Gaga playing "Born This Way" a few times. I was listening to it, maybe a little bit too much on the changeover, honestly, because I got broken the next game (laughing). But it's a bop. I love that song, so.

No, I think it's cool that the US Open has, like, so many nights highlighting different communities. I know yesterday was the HBC Live Night. Today is Pride Night. I don't know what else is on the lineup for this week.

But I think it's so cool and participating in it. I saw they are going to have a light show. I pay attention to a lot of it, honestly. I love it. I think it's great.

Yeah, I enjoy playing in night session when they have something to celebrate.

Q. How often do you have to stop yourself from commenting on Instagram? Have you ever thought about having a burner account to comment on like unrelated to you as well?

COCO GAUFF: No, I never thought about having a burner account, because I'll be stupid enough to, like, mess it up somehow. You know, the celebs, they'll, like, screenshot and then they, like, expose themselves. I would be stupid enough to do that.

I do have a finsta, but I don't comment things from it. It's just to post, like, for my friends.

Yeah, I have to stop myself sometimes. Even today I was, like, commenting, and somebody was being, like, peep tennis should play music and stuff during the matches and stuff.

I'm like, I would love to do that, but we use the sound to track the ball, so I was, like, I'm not going to go into a whole spiel to explain it. There are times sometimes I have to, like, watch myself and comment back.

But more than enough, I hold my mouth, but sometimes I do.

Q. With the added confidence to your serve, it's been cool to be reminded of how big your serve is, right, and how you're constantly hitting over 120 miles an hour. I think your fastest-ever serve is 128. Do you think you can you hit 130?

COCO GAUFF: Oh, that's a good question. I don't know if I can or not. That's a good question.

I mean, we'll see at the end of my career if I can. Maybe if I'm up in, like really up in a match, I might go for it. Sometimes when I am up, I try to go for it. But I find when I don't go for it, that's when the speed is higher.

I don't know, you have to just catch me on a real relaxed day. I don't know if I can hit 130, honestly.

Q. Watching your last two matches, it seems like you've responded to adversity even better perhaps than other tournaments past. Of course here tonight against Paula, there is a lot of back-and-forth moments. Do you think you also feel more comfortable in those positions even when things are in your control and then they kind of go up and down? Do you feel you're better at responding to those situations as well right now?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, definitely. I definitely think I have gotten a lot of experience playing in these pressure moments, what to do and what not to do. It's still a learning experience and things like that. I definitely feel more comfortable, especially on the serving end of things.

Honestly, I mean, she broke me two times, one time serving for it. I wasn't too upset. I was, like, I don't think I could have served that much better.

So I think that's, like, the part of my game where I feel less pressure and I know I can get a big serve in when I need to. It's just about if my opponent responds, and she did. Even on the first match point, 121 to body, and she hit it really good and hit a let cord.

I'm able to let things go now. I think before in the past I hated, like, losing these matches with double faults, so I'm not in that. I feel like I'm much more relaxed in these moments knowing that if I lose, it's because I gave myself the best shot versus just giving away the match.

Q. You did seem to be more at ease out there. Your game seems to indicate that. What's different this year versus last year that has you so comfortable and you're not in panic mode out there?

COCO GAUFF: I mean, yeah, again, back to the serve. I mean, going from 20-plus a match to, you know, maybe getting 6, and 6 doubles is a big difference, considering I'm going probably 115 up on almost every first serve unless I'm like sliding it or kicking it.

I think that's just the main thing. I think my forehand has gotten a lot better and still has, like, more that I can improve on it. But I think just knowing that I still have such a high ceiling on the things that I want to do gives me confidence for the future too.