A. SABALENKA/C. Gauff
1-6, 6-4, 6-4
THE MODERATOR: Coco, please share your thoughts on today's match.
COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, overall it was a tough match. Aryna played well. I didn't serve great. I think if I could do that better, then it probably would go my way today. Overall, I was up a set and a break. Yeah, I was playing good off the ground. She stepped up her level.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Talking about the serve, what do you attribute the issue to? Was it more working on the new thing or reverting back to older habits?
COCO GAUFF: New things. Yeah, working on a new thing. It's expected. I only had really a week to learn it, then I went to Beijing. I knew it wasn't going to be great. I'm honestly, like, surprised of how well I was able to do with it. We weren't expecting it. So yeah, I mean, overall it's growing pains, ups and downs.
Like, vice versa to Beijing. I had a day in between every day to work on it, whereas here it was kind of back to back. I think it was progressively just becoming harder because I got used to getting those reps in between the matches in Beijing.
Q. In terms of looking back from Beijing, through to this match, how pleased were you in terms of how well or not well, depending on what your assessment is, that you stayed committed to what you and the team have been working on? Did you feel there were slips at all or do you feel you committed the whole way through?
COCO GAUFF: No, I definitely think I tried to commit the whole way through. Yeah, I think I did. Honestly today it didn't go great, but it doesn't take away the serving that I did well in Beijing. Honestly, really up until this week. I think I played seven sets, only got broken twice up until today. There's a lot of positives to look forward to.
Yeah, it was a long couple weeks. I was tired. I think today I gave it my all. Knowing that the score was the score with a part of my game playing really bad, I think it can give me a lot of positives.
Q. As you said, you have to go through it. It's one thing to know it, another thing to have to manage it on the day, the frustration level. How do you find a way to focus on the bigger picture and not just be pissed off because you maybe had that match?
COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think it's both. I mean, obviously I wanted to win today. I don't go into a match thinking I'm going to lose. Obviously it's more so afterwards where you're trying to look at the positives. I was playing well and I was close today.
It is a bit frustrating 'cause I wanted to win this match. Yeah, but I know against her, as soon as your level slips, she can raise her level. That's kind of what happened today.
Honestly, I won the first set 6-1, I was playing well. I don't regret how I played off the ground. Almost every return game deuce, had break points. Really it's just the serving that let me down today.
Q. Aryna was very sympathetic to you in her presser. I feel you, girl. I know better than anyone else. Do you take some consolation or encouragement from the time she went through what she called the most horrible time in her life but now is better than ever?
COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't describe it as the worst time ever. I've been through worse things in off-court situations than not being able to serve well.
Yeah, I mean, there is moments in the match where you are just like, I just want to leave the court. I think for me, I didn't want myself to go into that mentality because it's not going to change anything. I was just trying to be positive. Today it didn't work.
But considering the moments in Beijing against Paula, I was down a set and a break, things like that, the mentality was positive. Overall I think it does help.
Yeah, I mean, it does give me confidence. I know she had a similar double-faulting issue. It does give me confidence knowing that everybody - not everybody - but a lot of players go through this.
Yeah, honestly, for me I'm not worried because I found the solution. I didn't really have time to work on it. Yeah, I'm really happy with how the last couple weeks went. I'm just trying to be positive from there.
Q. At the start of Beijing, it was like bubble finals, if you make it, great, if you don't, no big deal. Now you're in a very good position to qualify. Do you feel differently coming out of Wuhan compared to two weeks ago? What do you think you'll do between now and Finals, if you make it?
COCO GAUFF: Yeah, no, I saw that I qualified on the ranking race. Oops, they said they didn't announce it yet. If you look it up online, there's a checkmark by my name. They told me not to say anything. Sorry. But it's by my name (laughter).
Yeah, LiveWTARanking.com. You can look it up. So I'm there. I found out maybe two days ago. I don't remember which round, by quarters or something.
Yeah, I'm really happy to be qualified. I'm happy to be going there. Honestly, going in it was like whatever happens happens. Obviously you want to do the more positive thing. I think it's my third one in a row. It's my first time not playing doubles, so that's going to be a different experience.
But I'm excited. I'm looking at dresses. They have a lot of things planned for us. I'm super excited. Yeah, I heard it's going to be great, so I'm excited.
Q. Some people took a photo with you in the Wuhan shopping mall. Did you buy any souvenirs? How did you like your experience in Wuhan?
COCO GAUFF: Oh, yeah. Honestly, I wasn't expecting anybody to recognize me at the mall. I saw them staring at me. I wasn't sure because they don't see too many foreigners here. They asked me for a photo.
I didn't end up buying anything. We went and had Chinese food at the mall. I didn't buy anything, which I thought I was. Honestly, I just didn't. I went there for the food, and the food was great.
I wanted to go back, but I wasn't expecting to finish so late tonight. I probably won't get a chance to go back. I will go back next year. It's a huge mall. They had a New Balance store, so maybe I'll hit that up next time (smiling).
Q. Coming from Beijing to Wuhan, a very packed schedule. Would you spend a few more days to tour around Wuhan, given this is your first time in Wuhan?
COCO GAUFF: No. I think I'm going to go home just because it's been long. I think I've been here, like, four weeks. Two weeks is kind of when we have to leave for Riyadh. Yeah, maybe next year. I want to do well in Beijing. Hopefully I don't have time. But maybe next year I'll have more time.
Honestly, after matches, I walked around the city for 30 minutes. It's a very nice, modern city, which I wasn't expecting. I didn't really do any research on Wuhan, honestly.
I enjoyed it. The site is really top tier. They do a lot to make the players accommodated here. I really appreciate that.
Maybe next year. Honestly, I'm ready to sleep in my own bed.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports