Think elite athletes live on complex diets? Think again! Tennis star Coco Gauff keeps it real with her “raw-dogging” workout style and a viral fruit salad. Her focus on unglamorous agility drills and injury prevention is key to her incredible longevity on the court. Could her down-to-earth approach inspire your own fitness journey for long-term health?

Coco Gauff, a tennis phenomenon, embodies a striking paradox: the relaxed demeanor of Generation Z coupled with an unwavering athletic discipline. Her strategic approach to tennis training prioritizes longevity and peak performance, a meticulous regimen often hidden beneath her on-court calm.

Central to Gauff’s regimen is a profound emphasis on agility workouts, valuing quick directional changes and reactive movements over sheer brute force. This tactical choice shapes her play, leaning towards intricate spin rather than raw speed, a nuanced strategy designed to outmaneuver opponents and extend rallies.

Despite her rigorous athlete wellness commitments, Gauff maintains a refreshingly pragmatic stance on nutrition. She often eschews pre-workout snacks, affectionately terming it “raw-dogging” her sessions, and avoids overthinking her food choices, demonstrating a natural intuition rather than a restrictive sports nutrition plan.

Gauff’s disciplined mornings begin promptly at 8 a.m., a strategic move to preempt the intense midday heat of Delray Beach, Florida. This consistent early start is a year-round fixture, underscoring the unwavering commitment required for professional tennis training in demanding climates.

Her routine incorporates dynamic movement combinations, such as the challenging weighted squat transitioning into a powerful box jump, to build explosive power. Crucially, exercises like hip hinges and toe lifts form the bedrock of her injury prevention strategy, safeguarding vital joints, muscles, and bones from the relentless wear and tear inherent in elite sports.

As Coco Gauff herself candidly explains, “The main thing is a lot of injury prevention, which is great for any sport, but especially in tennis, because you are using those smaller muscles that you may not work on as much.” She acknowledges the necessity of these seemingly “boring exercises” for long-term health and career sustainability.

For crucial muscle recovery, Gauff’s preferred sports nutrition snack is simple: fruit. During the 2023 US Open, her wholesome fruit salad, packed by her parents and featuring favorites like pineapple, grapes, honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelon, became a viral sensation, highlighting her natural and effective approach to refueling.

Ultimately, the zenith of Gauff’s demanding schedule arrives around 2 p.m., marking the completion of her daily tasks. This allows her to transition seamlessly back into the life of any other typical twenty-something, underscoring the crucial balance she strikes between elite athleticism and personal normalcy, a testament to her holistic athlete wellness.