Coco Gauff Talks ‘Discovering a Steadiness’ amid Busy Tennis Schedule (Unique)

Discovering a work-life steadiness is not any match for Coco Gauff!

The tennis star, who’s the defending U.S. Open singles champion, opened as much as PEOPLE about how she prioritizes household and buddies as a professional athlete who travels world wide for tournaments.

“It is simply discovering a steadiness,” Gauff, 20, tells PEOPLE two weeks out from Wimbledon, the celebrated Grand Slam she famously defeated her function mannequin, Venus Williams, within the first spherical of in 2019 at age 15. “I additionally suppose as a result of I began so younger that it simply looks like my actuality,” she explains. “It does not really feel like I am lacking issues as a result of it is at all times been my actuality.”

Regardless of the “steadiness” she discovered, the now tennis prodigy — who will make her Olympic debut within the 2024 Summer season Video games in Paris, the USTA introduced on Thursday, June 20 — admits she typically nonetheless misses house. However says she is lucky to have her mother and pop by her aspect.

“There are occasions, sure, I do really feel homesick and really feel overwhelmed,” she says. “However I’m grateful that my dad and mom are in a position to journey with me loads, so they assist loads.”

Along with her mother and pop, Gauff says her buddies will cheer her on at matches, too. “Now and again, a few of my buddies will be capable of pop in for a few days earlier than a event or one thing,” she shares.

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Whereas Gauff says her buddies shall be becoming a member of her in London to assist her at Wimbledon — a second the star participant says she’s “actually enthusiastic about” — she mentions her boyfriend will possible be within the stands at U.S.-based occasions.

“My boyfriend, he’ll in all probability come to possibly some tournaments within the U.S. It is just a bit bit simpler than coming to Europe,” Gauff tells PEOPLE of her companion who she’s been courting for over a yr, however has stored his identification non-public.

Gauff’s boyfriend has supported her at main tournaments previously, just like the 2023 U.S. Open, however it’s unlikely he’ll be becoming a member of her in France for the Summer season Olympics. “I feel excellent now my mother and pop as a result of it is in Paris… it’s miles away from house,” the participant says.

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The primary-year Olympian, in the meantime, beforehand certified for the 2020 Tokyo Summer season Olympics, however needed to withdraw from the Video games after testing constructive for COVID-19. Now, Gauff says she’s “actually trying ahead” to competing this yr.

“Fingers crossed nothing occurs to me on the final minute once more!” she says. “However I am actually glad to have my shot at a medal… each time I see any person else with a gold medal, I would like one so dangerous.”

Work and household aren’t the one two priorities Gauff is a professional at balancing! She additionally focuses on a balanced weight loss program, too, which is why she’s partnering with Bare, identified for its actual fruit juice smoothies.

“I’ve principally been enjoying tennis for my entire life and at a reasonably excessive degree, so maintaining a healthy diet has at all times been a precedence of mine,” Gauff tells PEOPLE. “I choose to maintain it as pure as attainable… it’s extremely simple to combine it in with what I already do on the courtroom.”