World No. 4 Coco Gauff commented on her victory over Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open, winning the match 7-5, 6-1. In the first set, Andreeva had an opportunity to take the set but missed a double set point on her serve at 5-4.
– Coco, you now hold a 3-0 lead in your head-to-head record against Mirra. How would you rate your performance today on a scale of 1 to 10?
I`d say it was a 9 out of 10. I felt very confident in my play and managed to stay calm, even during the set points. I am really pleased with how I performed.
– The first set was quite competitive, whereas the second set seemed to go by very quickly. Do you feel you are building momentum as the season progresses?
Yes, absolutely, 100%. My first-round match here was challenging, but it served as a good wake-up call and prepared me. Now I feel like I`m playing better and better with each match. I really hope I can continue this form and go all the way.
– Could you share how you spent the day when there was a significant blackout in Spain recently?
Honestly, we ended up getting stuck at the stadium because of major transportation issues throughout the city. The traffic situation was really chaotic, and it wasn`t safe to attempt going back to the hotel. We had to wait for the police to manage the situation and restore some order, which took about two to four hours. So, that whole day at the stadium was primarily spent waiting. Later, when we finally got back to the hotel, the power was still out until about nine in the evening. By the time the electricity was finally restored, it was quite late, so I just went straight to bed. It was certainly an unusual experience – one I definitely won`t forget.
Marcus Prine