Coco Gauff on Chasing Her First US Open Title: “The Goal Is to Win” (Exclusive)
At just 19 years old, Coco Gauff stood on the cusp of tennis history, preparing to chase her first Grand Slam singles title at the 2023 US Open. In an exclusive interview with People, she spoke candidly about handling immense expectations, embracing growth, and sustaining the belief that the title is within reach.
“The goal is to win,” Gauff stated simply, as she stepped onto Arthur Ashe Stadium, focused not just on playing well but on lifting the trophy. That singular ambition reflects her maturity and clarity of purpose at a pivotal moment in her career.
A Mindset Shift: Reducing the Moment’s Size
Four years after her breakthrough performance at Wimbledon as a 15‑year‑old qualifier, Gauff approached her second US Open with significantly more composure. In her match against Mirra Andreeva, she credited recent experience and maturity for boosting her confidence:
“The more matches you have, the more experience you have,” she said, pointing to a marked change in how she handles pressure.
Instead of being intimidated by the grandeur of the occasion, Gauff focused on normalizing it—minimizing the size of the moment by treating it like practice.
Turning Pressure into Purpose
Gauff’s journey has been framed by comparisons to tennis legends like Serena Williams. While she admires Serena, Gauff clarified that she’s carving her own path, centered on accumulating Grand Slam titles—not fame.
“I’m really just caring about how many of those major trophies I can get in my house,” she said, describing the motivation behind her relentless drive.
That motivation helped her channel outside pressure into internal purpose, enabling her to perform at a high level when it matters most.
Fuel from the Ups and Downs
Leading into New York, Gauff had momentum on her side—winning 13 of her previous 14 matches and beating world No. 1 Iga Świątek in the process. These performances reinforced her belief that she belonged in the mix at the US Open’s deepest rounds.
She also acknowledged the role of earlier disappointments, such as losing the opening round of Wimbledon, which sharpened her mental edge:
“That adjustment just happened a lot with age…and also with you know, the new team and just hearing new things,” she explained.
Growth, for Gauff, has been a process—a combination of wins, losses, new coaching insights, and inner evolution.
A Career-Defining Moment
Gauff became the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena in 1999 when she beat Aryna Sabalenka in the 2023 final (2–6, 6–3, 6–2). That victory validated her declaration: the goal was real, and she achieved it.
The win sparked a deeper hunger—not for celebrity, but for competition. She clarified in later interviews that winning was a feeling she wanted to experience repeatedly—not just once.
More Than a Champion: A Voice
Off the court, Gauff has consistently engaged in social issues, from climate justice to racial equity. Her journey toward a Grand Slam title has unfolded alongside a growing public profile as a young athlete unafraid to use her platform.
In many ways, Gauff embraces her dual roles—elite competitor and cultural figure—with equal passion.
After the Title: A New Standard
Following her breakthrough, Gauff continued to raise the bar. She climbed to world No. 2 by June 2024, reaching the French Open final and winning the doubles title there. In 2025, she claimed her second Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros, becoming the first woman ever to win her first two Slam titles after losing the first set in both finals.
That achievement reinforced the lessons she voiced years earlier: mental resilience, preparation, and the unyielding acceptance that “the goal is to win.”
Looking Ahead: Returning to New York
With each passing year, Gauff’s US Open campaign has become more charged with expectation. But through exclusive reflections, she has made clear her mindset: minimize nerves by shrinking the moment, embrace experience, and never lose sight of her singular ambition.
At just 21, with multiple Grand Slams now to her name and a growing legacy off court, Coco Gauff stands poised for a return to New York—not as an underdog, but as a proven champion who knows the taste of victory and fully intends to taste it again. And in her own words: the goal remains the same—to win.
Summary
Over 600 words, this article highlights how Gauff’s statement—“The goal is to win”—encapsulates her shift from teenage sensation to mature champion. It explores her evolving mindset, the role of experience, and the authenticity she brings both on and off court. Gauff’s rising legacy and message continue to inspire; as she chases more titles, her ambition remains crystal clear: onto the next win
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