Coco Gauff's 5 Mental Habits for Staying Calm Under Pressure

When Coco Gauff's dad texted her at Wimbledon to remind her to eat between games, he knew something crucial: mental toughness starts with taking care of your body.

The two-time Grand Slam champion went viral at the 2023 U.S. Open when cameras caught her eating fruit salad courtside during her championship run. Now at 22, she's learned that staying fueled and focused through unpredictable matches requires both physical and mental strategy.

Gauff turned pro at just 14, when every win felt like victory and every loss felt devastating. Today, she's just as competitive but approaches the mental game differently. She's found ways to stay present, reset quickly, and treat herself with more compassion when things don't go as planned.

Her first strategy is visualization. When nerves creep in before a big moment, Gauff focuses on picturing herself succeeding in exactly the ways she wants to. Instead of letting her mind spiral into everything that could go wrong, she consciously redirects it toward all the things that could go right.

She also builds reset rituals into her matches. If she's losing multiple games in a row, she walks to the back of the court for her towel, taking a quiet beat to dry off and recenter. Sometimes she'll consciously slow down her movements to avoid rushing and making mistakes.

Off the court, Gauff embraces solo time during the grueling travel season. When loved ones can't join her on the road, she takes herself to movies, arcades, or even the zoo on off days. She's learned that getting out of her hotel room protects her mood and energy.

The mental shift that matters most is self-compassion. Early in her career, match results determined how she felt about her entire performance. Now she recognizes she can play well and still lose, or win without playing her best. She's working on celebrating what she did well instead of overly critiquing herself.

Her final habit is staying present. Losing the first set in a best-of-three match used to feel crushing. Now she focuses only on what she needs to do to win the next set, one point at a time. She's learned you can't control the future, only your next move.

Why This Inspires

Gauff's approach proves that elite performance isn't about being perfect or never feeling pressure. It's about having practical tools to bring yourself back to center when things get hard. Whether you're facing a championship match or a difficult conversation at work, her strategies translate: picture success, build reset rituals, practice self-compassion, and take it one moment at a time.

These mental habits helped transform a teenage prodigy into a champion who can handle anything the court throws at her.