Quote of the Day: Coco Gauff shrugs off "internet coaches" after Australian Open exit

Coco Gauff is shrugging off the critics and the armchair tennis coaches in favor of “a lot more work to do” after her Australian Open exit on Tuesday.

The No. 3 seed was stunned by a resurgent Paula Badosa, the No. 11 seed, who triumphed on Rod Laver Arena 7-5, 6-4 to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal—ending the American’s bid for a second major title in the process.

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When asked how she deals with the disappointment and social media noise after a tough defeat, the 20-year-old said she has a way to keep the critics in check.

“I guess you just have to realize that most of the internet coaches never coached anyone at my level or never played. So it's one of those things,” Gauff told press after the match. "You'll hear … people saying, Oh, she should have made this or he should have made that. Even when I'm watching, I do that.

"Obviously when you're out there, it's different.”

Gauff, who reached the Australian Open semifinals last year, had won her first nine matches of the season and capped off 2024 with a victory at the WTA Finals Riyadh. But she has also been keeping expectations low, as she retools her serve and forehand with a grip specialist.

“I take it with a grain of salt. Some people do mean well, so I don't look at it as all bad,” Gauff added. “I'm proud of myself, and that's all I can say.

“I promise that I'm going to continue to try my best to improve and live up to my own expectations of myself and whatever everybody else has I'll … whatever. I can't control that,” she said, smiling.

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Gauff was quick to give credit to opponent Badosa, who nearly a year ago was on the verge of considering retirement due to a lower back injury. Now, the Spaniard is projected to return to the WTA’s Top 10 for the first time since 2022 after recording her first run to a major semifinal—where the winner of Aryna Sabalenka and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova awaits.

“Paula was playing great. Maybe some moments in the first set could have gone my way, could have been a different outcome in the first set,” Gauff said.

“I think it's just a lot more work to do, but I'm obviously disappointed, but I'm not completely crushed. I'm looking forward to a lot.”