An interview with:
COCO GAUFF
THE MODERATOR: Welcome back to Stuttgart, Coco. Talk about how your practices have gone so far and how you're feeling generally ahead of the tournament.
COCO GAUFF: Yeah, happy to be back here in Stuttgart. Practicing has been fun. So far so good. Hopefully be able to kick off the clay season strong.
THE MODERATOR: Who would like the first question?
Q. This tournament is unique where it's an indoor clay court tournament. What do you think makes it challenging compared to other clay court surfaces?
COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think the clay is unique here. It's a little bit slippery, so it's hard to adjust to. Obviously the indoor component, something we're not - I'm not - used to seeing till the end of the year.
It's different for sure. It's definitely the least comfortable tournament I feel on court, on the clay, during the clay season. But I think it's great to start a tournament where it feels a little bit more challenging. It makes the rest of the season feel a little bit easier.
Q. You are the reigning French Open champion. What are your goals for this clay season? How does this tournament here help you prepare?
COCO GAUFF: I mean, my goals are just to focus on the game plan my coaches and I have worked on. Just focusing more on that than results.
Yeah, I mean, I feel like I've been in this position before when defending US Open, got a little bit stressed. It would be great to win again. But I don't want to, like, tear myself apart trying to do that.
I think the main thing is just focusing on the process and knowing that the results will come hopefully in a couple weeks in Paris. If not, knowing that it will come again.
Q. Playing Stuttgart, going to Madrid and Rome, why do you think you prefer to do that compared to other players who will play Charlotte and not till Madrid?
COCO GAUFF: I mean, the main thing is, I mean, I've always done well at Roland Garros. Last couple years have been quarters or better. Last few years semis or better. Anytime, that's the goal, is to peak at that tournament. That's the main motivation keeping that schedule, because it has worked well for me.
Although I don't typically do well in Stuttgart, it's not a tournament I necessarily thrive at, hopefully this year can change. Miami was a tournament I didn't thrive it, and I did well. I would love to do better here. The main thing I care about is Roland Garros and how I do there. That's the main reason for the motivation of that.
There's definitely years, there are times I think about maybe playing Charlotte and not playing here. I don't think there's a scenario where I would do both because it's a lot of tennis.
This tournament treats me well. I like coming here. Even though I don't do well here, I still have a good time here. I think that's all that matters.
Q. Aryna Sabalenka is not in Stuttgart. Do you think you have a good chance to win here?
COCO GAUFF: I mean, yeah, always have a chance, regardless of who's in the draw, Aryna or whoever is in the draw. Always have a good chance to do well at any tournament.
It's the first clay tournament of the year for me. Some people have already got matches at Billie Jean King Cup, last week in Linz. I'm not treating this as trying to win, I think it is just more so for the process to do well the next coming weeks.
Q. At the Australian Open the cameras that filmed the players off court became a topic. WTA said they want to talk to you players to find solutions. What would be a good solution, in your opinion?
COCO GAUFF: Signs. The main thing, signs. I think having some sort of control over, like, maybe WTA... It's on the Grand Slams, so it's hard for WTA to step in at a Grand Slam event, but obviously they have influence.
I think just controlling what's shown and what is not shown. There are many private moments that we have. I pray before every match. I had to tell the cameras to not record that moment because there's not many gender-neutral areas where we can be.
Yeah, it became a bigger topic because of me and breaking the racquet (laughter). I saw that Carlos said something, too, last week about it. I'm glad maybe I started a conversation.
I definitely think it's gone too far. We are athletes, we put on a show on the court, but I don't think we need to compromise everything we do off the court. I think the gym is okay, but when it comes to hallways and every scenario.
Some people were zooming in on people's phones, reading their text messages. I saw some tweets about that. I think that's where it can get a little bit too far.
Q. Random question. You're probably a fan of music. It's about tournament DJs. Are there any times where you like songs during changeovers or this is the worst time to be playing this song?
COCO GAUFF: I mean, I feel like every tournament overuses 'Sweet Caroline'. I feel like I hear that song twice a match all the time. It's a great song, but maybe I'm a little bit tired of that one.
There's definitely tournaments where they have better DJs than others. I remember actually here having a good one where they were playing more relevant songs. Some of them like to go to the oldies. I think Indian Wells tends to be one that likes to go for the older music.
But I think New York has the best DJ for sure by far.
Q. Where do you think can be the small margin that can help you to the next step ranking-wise? How much of a motivation can that be?
COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think it's just my game, trying to do better in those big moments in the final. There's some games in the third set that I think if I can improve on that, I can maybe win that match. You win that match, it's more points, then you get closer to being No. 1.
Yeah, it all comes down to the game, improving the details in my game, return, serve, forehand, everything. Yeah, I'm getting better. I definitely feel like I'm getting better. I just want to be consistent at being better, if that makes sense.
Q. I believe you practiced with Eva Lys today. What do you think of her potential?
COCO GAUFF: Yeah, Eva Lys is a great player, great person. Someone I got to know over the course since Australian Open. That's been really cool. It's our first time practicing together. Yeah, I think she's a great player.
One thing I noticed today, she holds the baseline really well. She stands really close. Doesn't really miss a lot from it. Strokes are super clean. She has a lot of potential.
I think the main thing is making sure she stays healthy. But yeah, I think she can beat anyone on any given day. I think she's proven that with her run in Australia, also United Cup. She had a pretty good United Cup, too.
I think once she's healthy and finds her form, we'll see her in the top of the rankings for sure.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports