Gauff: "When you win a Grand Slam, the rest of the year becomes easier"

Fernando Murciego | 15 Aug 2025 | 08.25

Cori Gauff speaks with the press in Cincinnati. Source: Getty

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Cori Gauff has needed two victories to reach the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati. She was fortunate to be one of the highest seeds and to have avoided competing in the third round due to her opponent's injury. Now, she faces a challenging match against Jasmine Paolini, but first, let's hear her statements from her latest press conference. The American is happy with her performance and calm about her season. Even though no top 3 player is ever completely satisfied, either due to personal ambition or the expectations placed upon them. That's how the Delray Beach player explained it after her straight-sets victory over Bronzetti.

Back in action

"Unfortunately, my second-round opponent couldn't play due to an injury. I sent her a message wishing her a speedy recovery. Sometimes having several days off during a tournament can be counterproductive, but I'm happy it didn't affect me. From the first match here, I felt I had a good rhythm, and today I was able to maintain it."

Her feeling with the serve

"In the second set, I think I improved my first serve percentage a bit, even though overall I'm hitting quite a few aces or unreturnable serves. Considering how things went for me in this aspect last week, I'm content right now. One always tries to work on being better, but it's always more satisfying when accompanied by some victories like today. The percentage of second serves was also high today. I'm pleased with where I am currently, but I have to keep working to get even better."

Perfectionist mentality

"It's always about learning. Maybe when I was younger, I took things more to heart, perhaps because as a junior, you don't compete every week, so everything gets magnified, even though I used to win a lot of matches at that stage. When you lose, it could be three weeks until the next tournament. Now, on the professional circuit, it's very tough to win every week, so you get accustomed to losing more than winning. I try to forget about those losses and focus on the long-term goals I've set. I do celebrate the victories, but I'm too much of a perfectionist. In the end, only the big titles give you satisfaction. I try to learn in that sense, appreciating every victory along the way."

Cori Gauff competing in Cincinnati. Source: Getty

Playing against lower-ranked opponents

"At times, it's difficult to face non-seeded players because they step onto the court with nothing to lose; all they can do is win. I try not to pay much attention to rankings. Right now, anyone is capable of beating anyone, regardless of what the numbers say. I think this has been reflected in recent tournaments, so I always try to be on guard. Many times you are more relaxed when facing a seed because you know what to expect. And if you lose, it's because your opponent showed a great level of tennis. On the other hand, losing to a lower-ranked player is usually because you didn't perform at your best, and there's room for complacency there."

The tranquility of having won a Grand Slam

"I'm in a similar situation to when I won the US Open; I maintain that balance on and off the court. Winning a Grand Slam allows you to approach the rest of the season with more calmness; no one can say it's been a bad year for you. However, it wasn't always like this for me, as fans expect you to win every week, but it's not easy when you compete in an eleven-month calendar. It's just as common to have 3-4 good weeks in a row as it is to have 3-4 bad weeks; that's how the circuit is structured."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gauff: “Cuando ganas un Grand Slam, el resto del año se vuelve más fácil”