Coco Gauff booked her place in the Australian Open quarter-finals after defeating Karolina Muchova on Sunday.
The world number three metaphorically stumbled during the second set before securing a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the Czech player.
Gauff, who is looking to win her first Australian Open title, will face Elina Svitolina in the last eight. Svitolina, the 12th seed, defeated Mirra Andreeva on Sunday.
After a week of Australian Open action, less than 15 players remain in the Women’s Singles draw, meaning the locker room has become a little bit more lonely.
Gauff reflected on the emptiness of the locker room at the latter stages of Grand Slam events while speaking to reporters during her post-match press conference.
Coco Gauff says when Grand Slam locker rooms become ’empty’
Gauff, who was in an jovial mood after defeating Muchova, discussed when the Australian Open locker room had begun to feel ’empty’ while speaking to reporters in Melbourne.
Gauff said: “Honestly, today [smiling].
“Yeah, today I was, like, in the gym and stuff, and I was, like, oh, it’s kind of empty. Usually you are fighting for your little corner or space to be in.
“And in the locker, I mean, my locker is way in the back, so it doesn’t always feel crowded. I think today was the first day I walked on, and there is a little lounge area, and sometimes the seats are taken and sometimes they’re not.
“Today I was, like, ‘oh, there is quite a few available.’ I would say, yeah, fourth round is when it starts to feel a bit empty.”
Ahead of Monday’s set of matches, there are 12 players remaining in the Australian Open Ladies Singles draw.
Coco Gauff, Elina Svitolina, Aryna Sabalenka and Iva Jovic have all advanced to the quarter-finals.
Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Xinyu Wang, Amanda Anisimova, Elena Rybakina, Elise Mertens, Maddison Inglis and Iga Swiatek are set to contest the final round of 16 matches on Monday.
Coco Gauff’s impressive run so far
After witnessing Gauff’s serving and forehand struggles throughout 2025, many tennis fans may have tipped Coco Gauff as a player who could exit the Australian Open at an early stage.
However, the American’s serving numbers have been consistent and she looks at home on the sky-blue courts in Melbourne.
Gauff has flaws in her game, of which she is evidently fixing. These improvements, coupled with her ability to perform at her best when the lights are brightest, make her a formidable opponent in the latter stages of the Australian Open.
If Gauff defeats Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, she will face Aryna Sabalenka or Iva Jovic in the semi-finals.
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