"It feels human, I gave in to the pressure, but that’s normal": Coco Gauff breaks down in tears amid tough Donna Vekic tie

Coco Gauff’s second-round win at the 2025 US Open wasn’t just another victory under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was a night where the world No. 3 showed her human side, breaking down in tears on court as the weight of expectation hit hard.

In her post-match press conference, Gauff spoke candidly about that moment, her growth, and her loyalty to fellow American Taylor Townsend following a controversial clash with Jelena Ostapenko. Gauff had seen off Donna Vekic 7-6, 6-2 in the second round and now faces Magdalena Frech at the US Open. She continues to struggle at times but also continues to win.

At 5–6 in the opening set, cameras caught Gauff wiping tears during a changeover but it shows the true human nature of a sport where people think they are ultimately like robots for doing the extraordinary. “Yeah, I think it was just nerves and pressure, honestly. I’m someone who usually thrives on that, but there’s been a lot on me this tournament, more than usual, which I expected. What you saw out there was what it was. I was able to reset through it, but yeah, it was a challenging moment for me on the court. It’s been a tough couple of weeks on and off the court, but I’m just happy to get through it today," said Gauff.

Asked what it felt like to break down in front of nearly 24,000 fans, Gauff didn’t shy away. “It feels human. I think being an athlete, people kind of disregard that side of us. People say things like, ‘You’re number three in the world, you should be better,’ but at the end of the day, if I stopped tomorrow, I’d have a career so many people dream of. In that moment, I gave in to the pressure, but that’s normal. Every pro athlete has felt that pressure, whether they showed it publicly like I did or privately. I just showed people what it’s like to be human. I have bad days, but it’s about how you get up after those moments. Today I showed that I could get up after feeling the worst I’ve ever felt on the court.”

She admitted the pressure including of dealing with a new serve has been building. “This year especially has been tough for me. There’s been a lot going on in my head with the changes in my game. It’s been very stressful. A lot of days I come off practice and I’m not feeling confident. Honestly, I was telling my team this might be the most nervous I’ve ever been before matches here, even more than my first time playing in Ashe. This tournament has been the hardest mentally, so today was the first time I let the emotions show.”

The conversation shifted to Jelena Ostapenko’s fiery press conference after losing to Taylor Townsend, where she criticized Townsend’s warm-up routine and a point played following a let cord. Gauff, who has known Townsend since her junior days, defended her friend fiercely. “Yeah, I saw what happened. I’m close with Taylor, so I can tell you a couple things. She’s always warmed up at the net since juniors — I played her when I was 14 and that’s what she did. It’s not against the rules. Same with the let cord — she had a winner afterwards and that’s not against the rules either.”

While understanding Ostapenko’s emotions, Gauff stressed Townsend’s character. “I know what was said after the match. It was probably the heat of the moment and emotions from losing. But I don’t think it should’ve been said, especially given those reasons. Knowing Taylor personally, she’s the opposite of that. She’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met — always checking in on me after tough moments. I hate that some people may be hearing of Taylor for the first time through this, because she’s much more than that. She’s a mom, a great friend, a talented tennis player, and a good person. I hope by the end of the tournament people see that side of her.”

The presence of Simone Biles in the stands gave Gauff an emotional boost and she lauded the gymnast. She also finally met her for the first time with scenes captured backstage. “She’s one of the greatest athletes. For me, it’s her and Serena. Everything she went through on the mental side of the sport is something I followed closely and tried to learn from. To see her tonight gave me a reminder I needed.”

Even in tough moments, Gauff tries to find levity and said for instance she loved her outfit at Wimbledon despite losing. “Sometimes you have to laugh at yourself. Even after I lost at Wimbledon, I thought, ‘Well, it was a bad loss, but at least my outfit looked good.’ It gave people something else to talk about. You have to take the positives. I’m not a fake positive person — if I’m positive, I mean it. But sometimes you just need that humor, especially after tough matches.”

Her revamped serve remains a focus, but Gauff is encouraged by signs of progress. “The second set today gave me a lot of encouragement. I won a lot of points off my first serve, and the double faults were a lot less than in the first. This whole tournament will stick with me for the rest of my career. If I can get through matches feeling like this, I know I can get through anything.”

And when it comes to fashion, she embraces individuality, crediting Serena Williams as a trailblazer. “When I was younger, everyone at the US Open was in the same kit — it looked like a cheerleading squad. Now brands are pushing individuality. We don’t have jerseys or uniforms, so the possibilities are endless. After COVID, I decided to step up how I dress. I can’t sing, act, or dance, so fashion is how I express myself.”

Despite the tears and the tension, Gauff left her press conference with perspective. “There’s a lot of positives. I’m just trying to make sure I open my eyes and see them too. Regardless of what happens, this tournament will always remind me that I can get up even after feeling my lowest.”