At just 20 years old, Coco Gauff has already lived through the kind of sporting highs and lows that would challenge even the most seasoned professionals. After a hard-fought and ultimately disappointing exit from Wimbledon 2025, the American star sat down for a press conference that was as raw and revealing as her game on the court.
The loss, coming on the heels of her stunning triumph at Roland Garros, was not just a setback — it was a collision between expectation and exhaustion.
“I Was Overwhelmed”
Coco began her remarks with honesty: “Obviously disappointed with how the result went today… I just couldn’t find my footing out there.” Her opponent, Diana Shnaider, had started strong and never really let Gauff into the match.
But this wasn’t just about a bad day on grass. “Mentally, I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards,” she admitted, referencing her emotional and physical state following her Grand Slam victory in Paris just weeks earlier. “I didn’t feel like I had enough time to celebrate and then also like, get back into it.”
That tension — between celebrating and preparing — is something Coco says she’ll reflect deeply on. “It’s the first time I’ve had this experience. I definitely learned a lot about what I would and wouldn’t do again.”
A Surface That Doesn’t Forgive
While Gauff has excelled on clay and hard court, grass remains her most challenging surface. She acknowledged as much when she said, “It’s difficult. I feel like by the time I find [my game], it’s already time to play.”
Her frustration was clear — not just in the result, but in the process. “I didn’t serve that well,” she admitted. “And I have to be able to counter [aggressive players] and be as aggressive too.”
The loss to a first-strike player like Shnaider reminded Gauff that Wimbledon is not forgiving for those still adjusting. “This tournament is definitely the most prone to upsets because of how quick the turnaround is from clay,” she noted.
On the Move from Center Court
Coco was originally scheduled to play on Centre Court but was moved to Court No. 1 — a last-minute change that altered her schedule and even delayed her eating. However, she was quick to clarify that it wasn’t an excuse: “I don’t think the court change affected the way the match went… I’ve played with quick turnarounds before.”
Searching for the Right Formula
The press conference repeatedly returned to one central question: how to manage the hectic European swing of the tennis calendar. “There is no formula to success,” she said, pointing out that even some of the world’s top players were falling early at Wimbledon this year.
Coco mentioned she might reconsider playing certain lead-up tournaments in the future — specifically Berlin, where she only had two days of grass practice. “It’s like finding a puzzle… Do I rush and play that week or take time and play the week before?”
There’s no perfect solution — only trial, error, and learning.
Pain Now, Perspective Later
Despite the candor and clarity, Coco’s emotions remained raw. “After the match, I definitely was struggling in the locker room. I don’t like losing,” she said quietly. “I just feel a little bit disappointed in how I showed up today.”
Yet even amid the heartbreak, she showed the perspective fans have come to admire. “Maybe losing here first round isn’t the worst thing in the world… I have some time to reset. I want to do well at the U.S. Open.”
The Dream Remains
Asked about her admiration for those who’ve mastered the brutal clay-to-grass transition, she didn’t hesitate: “If you can do this, you’re great. I’d love to one day be able to accomplish that.”
And yet, Gauff doesn’t need to win back-to-back Slams to win hearts. Her grace in loss — her willingness to share, to reflect, to learn — is a kind of victory all its own.
A Step Back to Leap Forward
This Wimbledon exit will sting. There’s no sugarcoating that. But Coco Gauff is still rising. Her resolve is evident, her talent undeniable, and her lessons from this loss will fuel the fire within.
She didn’t lose because she was unprepared. She lost because elite sports are a balancing act of timing, recovery, and mental clarity. Now she knows. And now, she’ll build again.
As she said with conviction, “I really do want to do well here. I’m not someone who wants to write myself off grass this early in my career… I have faith.”
So do we, Coco. So do we.
