Coco Gauff shows true colors as she makes admission after winning French Open

Coco Gauff is the first American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015, but the 21-year-old is keen to put that achievement to the back of her mind as she prepares for Wimbledon

Coco Gauff is eager to mentally move past her recent French Open victory as she begins preparing for Wimbledon.

The 21-year-old secured her second Grand Slam trophy earlier this month, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final, and becoming the first American woman to win at Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2015. This triumph marked her first major since capturing the 2023 U.S. Open title, reinforcing her elite status in women’s tennis and establishing her as a serious contender for future Grand Slams.

But with Wimbledon now just two weeks away, Gauff is prioritizing focus and humility. She’s determined not to repeat the mistake she made following her U.S. Open win two years ago, when basking in success led to a dip in motivation.

“I think I can give myself the best shot [of winning Wimbledon] by trying to keep the moment [winning the French Open] as minimised as possible,” she said on the Nice Talk with Nikki Ogunnaike podcast. “I’m kind of trying to forget the Roland Garros win, honestly.”

When pressed about her reasoning, Gauff elaborated: “Just to stay hungry. After [my] US Open win, for the rest of that season I was like, ‘I won the US Open, the season’s almost over, I’m pretty satisfied.’

“I don’t want to approach the rest of this season from that standpoint, also because there are two other Grand Slams that are very possible for me to win. So I think I’ve learned from that mindset, and I’m just going to try to forget [Roland Garros].

“Not now – I’m definitely remembering it now. But when the time comes, when I step out on Centre Court at Wimbledon, I will definitely try to forget.”

Historically, Wimbledon has been the toughest major for Gauff, with her deepest run being to the fourth round. Still, many now see the Georgia-born star as a real contender for the championship. Gauff, though, remains focused on setting a new personal best, rather than on lifting the title.

“Going into Wimbledon, I definitely feel pretty confident,” she said. “I’ve [been knocked out in the] fourth round there a few times, so I’m really focused on getting past that stage.”

There’s considerable pressure on Gauff, especially with American tennis lacking standout results lately. When asked how she copes with such expectations, the young star admitted it’s involved “a lot of trial and error.”

She continued: “I realize that it’s impossible to escape the noise, so for me it’s about trying to remember what my expectations for myself are, what expectations the people around me have for me.

“Sometimes I do welcome the noise, I think it gives me reason to prove people wrong and also prove people right. So sometimes it’s about finding the right balance of doing both.”

Though she is widely recognized as one of tennis’s biggest names, Gauff carries herself with a notable sense of perspective. Her mental preparation – which blends confidence with humility – is a vital part of her evolving game.

That emotional intelligence shows both in her composure under pressure and in how she manages life in the spotlight, which has followed her ever since her sensational Wimbledon debut at age 15 in 2019. Six years on, she returns to the famed grass courts not only as a young prodigy but as a proven champion, intent on adding yet another accolade to her growing collection.