“Crazy Sport”- With No Time to Pause, Coco Gauff Admits Harsh Truth About Tennis Ahead of Miami Open
Here’s a refined and engaging rewrite:
Coco Gauff on Avoiding Burnout and the Struggles of Self-Reflection in Tennis
“The most important thing is to avoid burnout because when I retire, I want it to be on my terms, not due to injury,” Coco Gauff recently shared in an interview with Roland Garros’ official website. And she’s not wrong. The WTA tour is relentless—players compete nearly year-round, leaving little time for recovery.
Now, as the former US Open champion prepares for her homecoming at the Miami Open, she’s shedding light on an often-overlooked aspect of the sport: the lack of time for self-reflection. In a world of constant training, travel, and competition, when do players truly get a moment to process their journey? Do they ever?
Gauff has already competed in four tournaments this season—or five, if you count the United Cup. Last year was just as intense. The American played 19 tournaments, including the 2024 Paris Olympics, while capturing three titles. She battled through 71 matches, posting a 54-17 record with a 76% win rate—a testament to her dedication and resilience.
This year is shaping up similarly. Gauff kicked off 2025 at the United Cup, then moved through the Australian Open, the Middle East swing, and Indian Wells—all before stepping onto home soil in Miami on March 21.
Ahead of her opening match, she was asked how she finds time to reflect on her form amid such a grueling schedule. Her answer? Pure honesty.
“It’s great to be back here. Like I said, I love this tournament—it’s my home tournament. Tennis is a crazy sport because you rarely have time to reflect. When you win, you’re already off to the next tournament. It’s probably something I need to sit down and do. Usually, I reflect on my birthday, but I was a bit busy. Overall, I’m very happy with my career so far. I have a very creature-mindset personality, so there’s a lot I do,” Gauff admitted.
Beyond Tennis: Gauff’s Off-Court Commitments and Personal Aspirations
Being the top-seeded American on the WTA Tour isn’t just about winning matches—it also means fulfilling obligations off the court. Between tournaments, Gauff has barely any downtime, with sponsorship deals and collaborations keeping her schedule packed.
Take her latest partnership with New Balance, for example. Fresh off competing at Indian Wells, she made headlines by launching her new Coco Delray collection alongside Joe Robinson.
Beyond endorsements, Gauff has personal passions she wants to explore, including her love for cooking. In 2023, she shared glimpses of her culinary aspirations, even posting about taking long-anticipated cooking lessons. However, her packed tennis calendar forced her to put those plans on hold.
“I had fun training so I can pretend to be a chef in The Bear lol. Can’t wait to use what I learned and make food for my family! Thank you @stephan.dalsoglio for the gift. And thank you @thecookingclubhouse for letting us reschedule a million times because of my match schedule :),” she shared at the time.
Despite her demanding schedule, she remains focused on her Miami Open campaign.
“I’ve Had Ups and Downs”—Gauff Opens Up Before Miami Open
While Gauff had a strong finish to 2024, winning the WTA Finals, her 2025 season has been more inconsistent. Despite winning the United Cup, she has struggled with early exits, suffering three consecutive defeats:
- Australian Open QF – Lost to Paula Badosa
- Qatar Open – Lost to Marta Kostyuk
- Dubai Championships – Lost to McCartney Kessler
- Indian Wells R16 – Lost to Belinda Bencic
Speaking to the press before Miami, Gauff acknowledged her recent struggles.
“I’m obviously not happy with those past results, but throughout my career, I’ve had ups and downs. I still feel like I have a couple more years before I reach that point where every week is a great week. I’m also in the middle of changes in my game, and it’s been difficult,” she explained.
She also touched on the expectations that come with being a top-ranked player.
“It is tough when people say, ‘Oh, she lost two matches in a row,’ because if I wasn’t a top-five player, it probably wouldn’t even be a conversation. But that’s part of being at the top. You’re expected to win. And I expect myself to win, too.”
Gauff has a 6-5 record at the Miami Open and has yet to advance beyond the fourth round. Now, she faces a familiar opponent: Sofia Kenin, a former Australian Open champion. Their head-to-head record stands at 2-2, but Gauff recently defeated Kenin in Melbourne earlier this year.
Can she capitalize on her home-court advantage and replicate that success?
