Gauff: "Beating Badosa is going to give me a boost of confidence"

Coco Gauff overcame a tough and demanding test in her goal of lifting her second title at the US Open. The American had to sweat to get rid of Paula Badosa, who played at a high level and challenged her on several occasions. However, this Gauff, with an improved serve, is very different from last year and secured victory by 6-4, 7-6(5).

Despite winning in two sets, Gauff confessed in a press conference that Badosa made her go through tough moments during the match and reiterated the key to her improvement: her serve. She also took the opportunity to downplay her chance of becoming world number one if she wins the US Open, focusing instead on winning Grand Slams.

Gauff explained her hard-fought victory at the US Open against Badosa

“It was a match of very high level. I don’t know what you all think, but for me, it was a high-level match. It was really tough. Obviously, Paula is a player against whom we have had our battles in the past, so I knew today was going to be complicated. I’m just happy to have been able to pull it off.”

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Gauff showed support for the presence of influencers, as long as they respect the rules

“It’s great to have a different audience within the sport, and I have no problem with influencers. I’ve met some and follow a few of them on social media. But I think it’s like any venue you go to: you have to follow the rules and the etiquette of the place.”

"And that also corresponds to some brands, maybe putting up a sign or something in the boxes so they know how it works. Because sometimes it’s their first tennis match and they don’t know. You just have to respect the etiquette of the sport. That’s all.”

Gauff appreciates Badosa's challenge and admits she enjoys playing three-set matches 

“It’s good to be tested. When I won here in 2023, I think I went to three sets in practically every match. Honestly, when I saw the draw I thought: 'Well, I’ve lost to Kasatkina many times and I’ve lost to Badosa many times.' So I knew that if I got past the first round, the second was going to be complicated, regardless of who was across the net.”

“For me, it’s a good confidence booster to know that I can get through these kinds of matches. Obviously, I’d prefer not to face someone I’ve lost to so many times in the second round. But today has been a great boost of confidence. And I think also winning in two sets makes a significant difference. Yes, it was a battle, but a good battle in which I wasn’t on the court for three hours.”

Gauff prefers Grand Slams to being world number one

“I never thought about being number one. I’ve always had a Grand Slam mentality. Yes, it would be great to be number one, but honestly, it’s not something I’ve thought about much. Of course, I care, but it’s not something that makes me nervous. If it happens, great. If not, it’s not a big deal. I’m more focused on winning Grand Slams, because in the end, that’s what people talk about the most during your career, more than being ranked number 1. Obviously, if you win Grand Slams, the ranking will come.”

Coco Gauff sails into the third round of the US Open after winning in straight sets 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hDOZIrymoJ

— espnW (@espnW) September 4, 2026

“It adds excitement and makes it interesting for fans. As for me, honestly, I didn’t even know I was in contention until someone mentioned it to me in Cincinnati or maybe here. I don’t remember. So yes, I’m not looking at the rankings. Sometimes I do check the live ranking after the US Open to see if I get into the WTA Finals, but I’m not thinking: ‘I’m so close to being number one.’”

Gauff explained the change in mindset that has given her more maturity on the court

“I’ve gained a lot of experience playing these pressure moments, knowing what to do and what not to do. It’s still a learning process and all that. I definitely feel more comfortable, especially with my serve. Honestly, she broke me twice, one of them when I was serving to close the match. I wasn’t too upset. I thought: ‘I don’t think I could have served much better.’”

“Now I’m able to let those things go. I think before I hated losing these matches with double faults, but I’m not at that point anymore. I feel much more relaxed in these moments knowing that if I lose, it will be because I gave myself the best opportunity, not because I gifted the match away.”

Gauff revealed the big change in her tennis from one year to the next

“Going from making over 20 double faults per match to maybe making 6, and 6 double faults is a huge difference, especially considering that I’m probably serving at 115 miles per hour on almost all my first serves, except when I hit a sliced serve or with spin. I think that’s the main difference.”

“I also think my forehand has improved a lot and still has room to keep getting better. But just knowing that I still have such a high ceiling in the things I want to do gives me confidence for the future as well,” concluded a Coco Gauff who continues to grow at a US Open where she is increasingly a favorite.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gauff: "Ganar a Badosa me va a dar una inyección de confianza"