'I want to smile as much as he does' - Coco Gauff revealed the player who inspires her

In the first match of the day on Philippe-Chatrier Court, Coco Gauff overcame a first-set loss to defeat fellow American Madison Keys, winner of this year's first Grand Slam, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1.

With this victory, Gauff advances to the Roland Garros semifinals, where she will face tournament surprise Lois Boisson (22, ranked 361st).

The Frenchwoman defeated Mirra Andreeva (18, ranked 6th) 7-6 (6), 6-3, fueled by the energy of a large, supportive crowd.

Following her semifinal qualification, Gauff revealed her inspiration from Carlos Alcaraz, who also secured his place in the semifinals on Tuesday, June 3rd, with a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Tommy Paul (28, ranked 12th).

"After Carlos' documentary, which I haven't seen but have heard a lot about, I'm trying to get out of my tennis bubble more and enjoy life. I actually told Carlos that I want to try to enjoy myself more on the court and smile as much as he does."

"Overall, I'm enjoying life more. I think he has a great philosophy, and it's something I'm trying to draw inspiration from. I don't think I'll ever be able to smile as much as him on the court," Gauff said, as quoted by Punto de Break, via GSP.

The 21-year-old also spoke about the mentality she displayed against Keys and the attitude she aims to maintain during matches.

"I'm really proud of my ability to fight on the court. I feel like the more challenging the situation, the more likely I am to perform at my best. I love to win.

"I'm very competitive in all aspects of life, and my philosophy is to leave it all on the court, and if I lose, then the loss will be less painful than if I hadn't given it my all. I won't have any regrets, which is the worst feeling you can have as a tennis player," emphasised Gauff, who added that she admires Leo Messi, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Serena Williams.

"I've always been very competitive, but I think I've gotten better at being optimistic on court and having a positive mentality. I've been inspired by great sports legends, not just the Big 3. I pay close attention to how figures like Messi, LeBron, Kobe, and obviously Serena Williams have managed their careers," added the world number two.