During Monday’s Australian Open press conference, World No. 3 Coco Gauff provided rare insight into the behind-the-scenes of major tournaments as an elite player, discussing the often “awkward” interactions that take place in the locker room between competitors.
Her candid remarks about a specific encounter with a fellow player have sparked considerable speculation across the tennis community about Emma Navarro, notably after she referenced “depression candy,” leaving fans to piece together who she was describing.
Coco Gauff’s Australian Open Press Conference Following First Round Win
Gauff opened her Australian Open campaign on Monday with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over Kamilla Rakhimova on Rod Laver Arena. The American took one hour and 40 minutes to advance to the second round, marking her 75th Grand Slam match victory and 250th WTA tour victory.
During the post-match press conference, Gauff offered candid insights into her recent “awkward” locker-room experience, which captivated the tennis community. Gauff had mistakenly congratulated a player whom she believed had won their match, only to discover that they had actually lost.
One thing she mentioned was that the player had candies, which led Gauff to congratulate them, but, as it turned out, they were ‘depression candies’. Now, Monday was a particularly challenging day for several players, leading to widespread speculation following Gauff’s comments.
Navarro, the 15th seed, suffered a shocking first-round exit at the hands of Poland’s unseeded Magda Linette, ranked 50th in the world. Navarro won the opening set 6-3 but completely unraveled in the subsequent two sets, falling 3-6, 3-6 as Linette’s aggressive play decided the match.
Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, suffered an even more decisive loss to American Peyton Stearns, ranked 53rd in the world. Stearns dominated the match with impressive serving and aggressive groundstrokes, defeating Kenin 6-3, 6-2 in a clinical display that showcased the rising American’s potential.
Alexandra Eala, the 20-year-old Filipino sensation making her Australian Open main draw debut, delivered the most dramatic result of the day. She won the first set 6-0 against Alycia Parks before the American mounted a stunning comeback, winning the next two sets 6-3, 6-2 to advance.
What Does the Tennis Community Have to Say on This?
The speculation surrounding Gauff’s mystery player has dominated social media discussions since the press conference. Tennis fans quickly began narrowing down potential candidates by reviewing the scorecards while considering the “depression candy” angle.
One fan declared, “Breaking news: Coco reveals emma navarro was def eating depression candy in the locker room,” announcing that it was Navarro.
Breaking news: coco reveals emma navarro was def eating depression candy in the locker room https://t.co/zQUeUPeXbZ
— Robespierre (@brookeabees) January 19, 2026
Another fan supported this claim, writing, “Definitely Emma😂😂”
Definitely Emma😂😂 https://t.co/w8D7vGYHTy
— Masole Moerane🇿🇦🇩🇪 (@SoletheBanker) January 19, 2026
“the depression candy is navarro DOWNNN,” wrote another fan, calling out the World No. 15.
the depression candy is navarro DOWNNN https://t.co/1pufgIknjA
— krysalys. (@krysalysonline) January 19, 2026
“that locker room vibe must be so weird sometimes gotta keep it chill even when it’s tense,” wrote a fan who understood what it’s like after a day full of upsets in a major tournament.
that locker room vibe must be so weird sometimes gotta keep it chill even when it’s tense
— Five | 𝔽rAI (@0xHamadav) January 19, 2026
However, another fan chimed in on the conversation, writing, “it was so navarro 😭”
it was so navarro 😭 https://t.co/rUmSWh0FFb
— tomas (@tvillalovos__) January 19, 2026
Gauff is now set to face the Serbian Olga Danilović, who ended American legend Venus Williams’ legendary comeback just one day ago. According to PFSN’s exclusive interactive simulator, Gauff is 86% likely to win the clash and head to the next round, where she can face either Australian qualifier Storm Hunter or compatriot Hailey Baptiste.
