“I love pasta!” Nutrition secrets from 19-year-old US Open champion Corey Gauff

Corey Gauff, a rising star of American tennis – indeed, already risen – was not the main contender to win the US Open. The chances of former world number one Iga Swiontek and Aryna Sobolenko, who just replaced the Polish player and became the new WTA ranking leader, were assessed more favorably. Elena Rybakina should have fought for the title. But all of them were defeated for various reasons, and the main trophy went to the 19-year-old American. And quite deservedly so. In the final, Gauff won a willful victory over Sobolenko.

Before the US Open, Cory gave an interesting interview to the popular women’s publication Women’s Health. In it she talked about her food preferences. But in two weeks this conversation has not lost its relevance – on the contrary, it has become even more interesting: what does the breakfast of champions consist of?

“I’m not a very good cook,” Gauff admitted. And that, frankly, is not very surprising. The top tennis player has such a busy schedule that there is simply not enough time to learn the art of cooking. But Corey doesn’t give up. Just this summer she started to master cooking not in the consumer, but in the creative sense. And she likes it: “In the future I would like to learn it.

Cori Gauff during her US Open 2023 victory.

So what does Gauff eat for breakfast? In her case, her first meal involves a balance of protein and carbohydrates. “Here today I had eggs, potatoes, sausage and fruit. That’s usually what my breakfast looks like.”

This combination is a proven method for providing long-lasting effects of exercise. Carbohydrates provide the energy needed for exercise, while protein is needed to ensure that the muscles get the amino acids they need. In this way, the body recovers better, and the person becomes stronger. In addition, protein slows down the rate at which carbohydrates are absorbed by the body and prevents blood sugar levels from spiking and then dropping.

And Gauff also admitted that if she wasn’t a top athlete who puts her career first, she would eat… pancakes every day! Instead, she opts for fruit to satisfy her cravings for sweets.

Lunch at Corey’s, in her words, is “always different.” It all depends on whether she has a match that day or not. During the tournaments, the tennis player actively piles on pasta. “I just love pasta and I think it’s a great way to refresh myself,” Gauff explains her choice. And when there are no tournaments, the athlete prefers rice or beans as a side dish, as well as chicken and avocado, which is one of her favorite spreads. For dinner during the tennis season Corey almost always eats protein food: salmon, chicken. In addition to that, she also eats vegetables. Gauff does not like red meat, but sometimes eats steak.

In this case, something Cory is able to cook herself, despite the already mentioned small experience in the kitchen. And that’s where her air fryer comes in handy. “I think it’s the easiest thing in the world. And it’s quite easy to clean,” says the tennis player. Recently, Gauff tried to cook herself Brussels sprouts and salmon in the air fryer. “And it turned out really well!” – she rejoices.

Cory Gauff on vacation in Spain in May 2023

And where can you go without desserts? Gauff doesn’t spoil herself with sweets every day, but sometimes she allows herself ice cream or cakes. “When I won the title in Cincinnati, I had a hamburger. And after it, I had ice cream. I like ice cream a lot. But now, I guess, I still like cakes the most,” she admitted.

It is also necessary to keep the water balance. Cori drinks a special drink, which, according to her, “prevents dehydration and restores fluids, electrolytes and zinc. The athlete has never had problems with cramps or dehydration while drinking this drink on a regular basis. But she drinks it during training and only water during matches.

Of course, it’s not only proper nutrition that matters, but also the right mental attitude. “I really believe in the way I play. Usually before a tournament I’m more nervous than others. But at the moment I feel very confident.

There are no special secrets or anything like a lot of people might think. Just a change in mentality, a real belief in myself. The fact that I’ve been able to look at the game and life in general with different eyes has made it a lot easier and clearer for me to play on the court,” concluded Gauff.