“I’m proud of how I was able to turn around the season” – Coco Gauff looks ahead to grass season

The American teen said she is looking forward to Wimbledon and the grass season

Coco Gauff at 2023 Western & Southern Open

Image Credit: JB Autissier / Panoramic

June 7, 2023

American teen Coco Gauff said she was proud of the way she has turned around her season, despite her loss to world No 1 Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros on Wednesday.

In a repeat of last year’s final, Gauff went down to Swiatek in straight sets – her seventh loss in a row to the Pole. But the American said she was trying to look at the positives from the fortnight.

“I’m proud of how I was able to turn around the season. I think especially those wins in the first round and then against Mirra,” Gauff told the press on Wednesday. “In the past I would say after losing the first set it’s been pretty tough for me to get back in the match, and I think that this tournament I really found that I guess the mental adjustments that I need to make in the game. I think sometimes I can lose the first set and go into a panic mode, and I think I stayed calm. Even today I lost the first set, and I had opportunities early in the second, but I try my best to stay calm in those moments. So I think that’s something I did improve on. I am happy with how I was able to turn around, especially given how the last couple of weeks have gone. Not the result that I wanted, but I’m sure there’s some positives I can think of maybe in a couple of days.”

Gauff admitted that she was frustrated by the loss but was trying to put a brave front. “I wouldn’t say I’m more at peace. To be honest, I’m still very frustrated, but I guess I’m trying not to show it as much. I don’t want those pictures on the internet. So I’m just trying my best here (laughing).”

The American is now looking forward to Wimbledon, the Grand Slam where she made her big breakthrough in 2019.

“This loss, I can’t take it into the next Grand Slam, to be honest. I could, but I don’t think I would be very successful if I did. Then the 2019, I mean, I definitely have memories of it. It does feel like forever ago, but obviously there is some deja vu walking the grounds the first time. It’s something that I think every time I go, will always be a memory. I think not because of the way it happened, but I just feel like Wimbledon is one of those special tournaments that you always remember your first time playing. I would say that memory stands out the most compared to the other slams, obviously because of the way it happened. I think a lot of players would say that something about playing Wimbledon is just really special. Carrying it into the next Grand Slam, I’m excited. I like the grass. I have good results on there, and I think I can improve a lot, and I’m just looking forward to getting better and improving.”