“I’ll Never Smile As Much As Carlos”—Coco Gauff Finds Joy in Paris

Coco Gauff (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

PARIS — Coco Gauff is borrowing a page from Carlos Alcaraz’s playbook at Roland Garros: smile more, stress less, and simply enjoy life.

“I really think Carlitos has a great philosophy, and it’s something I’m trying to follow,” she said after reaching the French Open semifinals.

“I try to follow his example. I’ve told him that I’m trying to have fun on court the way he does, to smile like he does. It inspires me. To enjoy life more in general — and I feel like you play better that way,” she told reporters in Paris.

Gauff hasn’t watched Alcaraz’s Netflix documentary yet, but she already understands the Spaniard’s relaxed mindset. For Alcaraz, leisurely moments with friends, parties, and carefree time by the Mediterranean Sea are vital to clearing his head before competing.

That slice of normality, familiar to most young adults, is precisely what the 2023 US Open champion longs for herself.

“Doing more ‘normal’ things is something I need as well, and I’ve been trying to do that more often,” Gauff said. At Roland Garros, she aims to capture her second Grand Slam title. Standing in her way to her first Paris final is the tournament’s surprise standout, Frenchwoman Loïs Boisson.

“I don’t think I’ll ever smile as much as Carlos… I tend to be more serious on court, but I try to remind myself this is just a game, and I should treat it that way,” Gauff admitted.

“I feel like so much in my life I was so locked in, and of course, it’s good to be locked in. In juniors, it was a bit easier—we’d play a tournament, then go home for three weeks, then another one, and back home again. On tour, it’s the complete opposite,” explained the world No. 2.

Gauff’s path has hardly been conventional. At 15, she shocked the tennis world by defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon. Still, she makes time to briefly step away from tennis, enjoying star-studded events like the Oscars or glamorous Vogue photoshoots.

Then, refreshed, she returns to the court, ready to chase big trophies.