Regular rotini: Coco Gauff's practice reps carry over to pasta cooking

FLASHBACK: Gauff wins first WTA title in Parma

Call her Chef Coco.

Trading in tennis balls for tomatoes and racquets for recipes has evolved into a hobby Coco Gauff enjoys when she's not exchanging groundstrokes.

The tennis star recently joined forces with Hypebeast and Barilla, who has sponsored her since 2019, to give a whole new look into her life. She chefs it up, has a mini dance party, and talks everything from pressure to pasta in an exclusive interview.

Gauff became one of the biggest names in tennis almost immediately after she made her Grand Slam main draw debut in the summer of 2019. She’s beaten a childhood idol, won a title, reached a career-high of world No. 23, and more, all before turning 18. Impressive doesn’t even begin to cover it, but there’s a lot more to Gauff than her growing list of athletic accomplishments.

There’s cooking, for one. Like most teenagers, Gauff loves to eat, but unlike most teenagers, she wants to be the one putting in work and getting creative with recipes. Pasta is something she’s passionate about (hello, dream partnership with Barilla), and she uses cooking and experimenting with it as a way to unwind when she’s not on court.

Of course, being Top 25 in the world means thinking about tennis when she’s off the court as well, but Gauff has found that her cooking experience translates to her sport. Relaxation in the kitchen equals a delicious meal, and relaxation on court equals a successful match.

“You need the focus and patience to see through the whole recipe you’re making, one mistake can cost you. If you’re relaxed, you’re able to have more fun with it and have the confidence to add your own twist on dishes,” Gauff told Hypebeast.

Gauff seems to have that part down. In a video that shows an inside look at the French Open quarterfinalist at home, she looks more like a 17-year-old than she does when she’s in business mode on court. Gauff is sporting New Balance, one of her very first sponsors, while she dances to music, laughs at herself, and cooks a pasta dish. Later, she hits the books, chats on the phone, and heads to practice, all while keeping a good head on her shoulders.

“I try to remember that nobody is bigger than the game and to treat everyone with respect, especially those that are sacrificing so much to help me succeed.”

It’s easy to forget, based on her short but stunning tennis career, that Gauff is just a teenager that loves TikTok, fashion, and her family and friends. The Delray Beach, Fla. resident still carries a level of pressure and influence that many of her peers would never dream of. But regardless of whatever else she’s cooking up on or off the court, it’s sure to be a masterpiece.