Coco Gauff may be known for her powerful forehands and composure under pressure, but the young tennis star recently revealed a more down-to-earth and relatable side of herself. In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, Gauff opened up about her excitement while watching tennis legend Venus Williams at the Mubadala Citi DC Open and the one surprising thing she did with her boyfriend that night.
The 21-year-old admitted that she doesn’t usually step into the kitchen, but her admiration for Williams’ historic win on July 22 was so inspiring that she decided to cook dinner before sitting down to watch.
“I never cook, but I made dinner that night… Dinner and everything because I was so excited to watch her play,” Gauff confessed with a laugh.
Gauff, who has been quietly dating her boyfriend since 2023, shared that the moment was special because it was the first tennis match in a long time that she had genuinely been thrilled to watch. Sitting next to her partner, she recalled counting down the minutes until Williams took the court.
“She was after Ben Shelton, and I was like, ‘Ben needs to wrap this up. I can’t wait to see Venus,’” she joked, referencing her close friend and fellow tennis star Shelton, who has been enjoying a breakout season of his own.
Admiration for Venus Williams’ Longevity
Though Williams eventually fell to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the second round of the DC Open on July 24, her first-round victory over Peyton Stearns had already made headlines. For Gauff, the moment was more than just about one win — it was about what Williams continues to represent for women’s tennis.
“I think for women’s tennis it’s great just to see the longevity that we can have, especially in a sport like tennis,” Gauff explained. “I don’t think it’s really that common in any other sport except maybe golf to have this longevity.”
She praised Williams as an icon, acknowledging that few players will ever match her ability to perform at such a high level for decades. “I don’t think I will be able to do that… and I don’t think too many players can or will be able to do that,” Gauff admitted honestly. “So I think we should cherish the moment while it’s here.”
Building Her Own Legacy
While Gauff insists she has no plans to play into her forties like Williams, she is already taking serious steps to ensure her own career longevity. A big part of that, she says, comes down to fueling her body properly.
That’s why the rising star has partnered once again with Naked Smoothies, this time for a special collaboration that is as refreshing as it is performance-driven. On August 18, Gauff officially launched her very own creation: the Protein Pineapple Orange Smoothie.
“This has been in a process for a while,” she said. “It was really exciting. My favorite part definitely was trying different things and flavors, and kind of trying to figure out what I would want in a smoothie.”
Packed with 20 grams of plant-based protein, electrolytes from coconut water, essential vitamins B6 and B12, and six grams of fiber — all with no added sugar the smoothie is designed to keep Gauff energized both on and off the court. Most importantly, according to her, it actually tastes good:
“It tastes like fruit!” she raved.
A Limited-Edition Experience
Fans who want to get a taste of Gauff’s tropical creation won’t have to wait long, but they’ll have to act quickly. The smoothie is a limited-edition product available only in select stores. To celebrate the launch, Naked Smoothies will host Coco’s Corner Store, an immersive pop-up in New York City running August 21–22, just ahead of the U.S. Open.
For Gauff, the smoothie is more than a product launch it’s a reflection of her growing influence both inside and outside the sport. Just as she looks up to Venus Williams for blazing the trail of longevity in tennis, she is carving her own path by blending performance, personality, and passion into everything she does.
From making a rare home-cooked dinner for her boyfriend to proudly launching her own smoothie, Coco Gauff is showing fans that she is just as human as she is extraordinary. And as she heads into another U.S. Open, her story continues to inspire both on the court and beyond it.