Gauff: "I go into every match thinking I can lose, and that helps me play better"

Andrés Tomás Rico - 6 Sep 2026 | 02:10
WTA Cori Gauff US Open 2026 Cristina Bucsa Rueda de prensa

The American acknowledged that, despite the victory, she was very frustrated with Bucsa's game: "She forces you to play in a certain way and makes you commit errors."
 

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Gauff: "I go into every match thinking that I could lose, and that helps me play better." Photo: Getty Images

Coco Gauff continues to overcome obstacles in this US Open, and this latest one had an extra difficulty. She struggled against Paula Badosa and today she had to face another Spaniard: Cristina Bucsa. The player from Cantabria also challenged her, but she managed to overcome her, by 6-4, 6-3, and moved into the round of 16 of the New York Grand Slam.

However, in the press conference following her victory, Gauff admitted the tough time Bucsa gave her on the court due to her playing style. She also talked about the mindset she has when she steps onto the court before each match and about the tough day American tennis had with the losses of Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys, and Amanda Anisimova.

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Gauff praised Bucsa 

"I think Cristina is a tough opponent, a difficult player, so I was a bit frustrated out there, but overall I'm happy with how I was able to close that second set after she broke my serve. I had played against her before and felt something similar. I think we played in Indian Wells and I had a similar feeling. Honestly, I didn't even remember feeling frustrated until I stepped on the court. With some players, you mentally prepare yourself. You think: 'This is going to be one of those matches.' I don't know if I did that too well today. I think I went in expecting it to be different because it had been a long time since we last played."

"She does a great job of changing the rhythms. She can hit many balls in play, forcing you to play a certain way or pushing you into making errors. She doesn't make too many unforced errors. I think that was the frustrating part. Also, it was my first day match, so I had to get used to those conditions. It was a combination of several factors."

Gauff and the feeling of being invincible

"It's not something you just try to achieve. I think the only thing you can do is maintain the same routines and try to prepare yourself as best as possible. But for me, it’s an inexplicable feeling that some days you just step on the court and feel like you're not going to lose, and I've had those experiences before. Every time I've felt that way, I haven't lost."

"So it's a strange thing, and sometimes you notice it from the warm-up. Other times you reach a point in the match where you simply feel very good. For me, it was at 4-4. That return game was probably the best game I played all match because there weren't many like that. I think that was when I entered that state of flow. Yes, there have been some matches, or even tournaments, where I just felt very good on the court."

Gauff lamented the losses of her compatriots and warns of the current equality in tennis

"I don't think it necessarily affects how I play or how I enter the match. It's something you pay attention to. Obviously, Taylor played before me and it was tough to see him lose. I also watched the matches of Madison and Amanda. To be fair, they all played against very high-level opponents. It’s just tennis. Some days things don't go as you want."

"But I feel that the circuit, both in men's and women's tennis, has a lot of depth. So yes, it’s a surprise, but among the players, you think: 'Well, it's really not that surprising.' I guess for you, by the numbers, it might seem more unexpected."

Gauff explained her mentality before each match

"I go into every match thinking I can lose. I don't know if that's healthy or not, but I prepare for that possibility. I mean, I go into every match believing I can win and all that, but honestly, I think for me, it’s a healthy mindset because I don't put too much pressure on myself thinking: 'I have to win this match because I'm much higher ranked than my opponent.'"

"I go into every match thinking: no, all these players have earned their place here. Being in the top 100 and playing in the main draw of a Grand Slam is no easy feat. For people online, yes, I'm number 4 and I should win, but that's not reality. At the end of the day, we are all competitors, and we have all been that lower-ranked player at some point in our careers. So yes, upsets exist, but anyone can lose. I approach with that mentality, and I think if anything, it keeps me more alert all the time, which helps me play better," concluded Coco Gauff, who is increasingly a favorite to achieve her second US Open.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gauff: "Entro a cada partido pensando que puedo perder y eso me ayuda a jugar mejor"