Exclusive:Coco Gauff Talks About ‘Reasons She Broke Up With Her Boyfriend’ and Family amid Busy Tennis Schedule…

Coco Gauff Talks ‘Finding a Balance’ with Boyfriend and Family amid Busy Tennis Schedule (Exclusive)
“It doesn’t feel like I’m missing things because it’s always been my reality,” the reigning U.S. Open champ tells PEOPLE of balancing her tennis priorities

By Skyler Caruso Published on June 25, 2024 09:08AM EDT
Coco Gauff of the United States reacts to defeating Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the womens singles final on Day 8 of the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 20, 2023 in Mason, Ohio
Coco Gauff in 2023. PHOTO: ROBERT PRANGE/GETTY
Finding a work-life balance is no match for Coco Gauff!

The tennis star, who’s the defending U.S. Open singles champion, opened up to PEOPLE about how she prioritizes family and friends as a pro athlete who travels around the world for tournaments.

“It’s just finding a balance,” Gauff, 20, tells PEOPLE two weeks out from Wimbledon, the prestigious Grand Slam she famously defeated her role model, Venus Williams, in the first round of in 2019 at age 15. “I also think because I started so young that it just feels like my reality,” she explains. “It doesn’t feel like I’m missing things because it’s always been my reality.”

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Coco Gauff of the United States reacts to defeating Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the womens singles final on Day 8 of the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August

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Finding a work-life balance is no match for Coco Gauff!

The tennis star, who’s the defending U.S. Open singles champion, opened up to PEOPLE about how she prioritizes family and friends as a pro athlete who travels around the world for tournaments.

Despite the “balance” she found, the now tennis prodigy — who will make her Olympic debut in the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, the meannounced on Thursday, June 20 — admits she sometimes still misses home. But says she is fortunate to have her mom and dad by her side.

“There are times, yes, I do feel homesick and feel overwhelmed,” she says. “But I am thankful that my parents are able to travel with me a lot, so they help a lot.”

In addition to her mom and dad, Gauff says her pals will cheer her on at matches, too. “Every now and then, some of my friends will be able to pop in for a couple of days before a tournament or something,” she share

While Gauff says her friends will be joining her in London to support her at Wimbledon — a moment the star player says she’s “really excited about” — she mentions her boyfriend will likely be in the stands at U.S.-based events.

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Coco Gauff of the United States in action during her victory against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in the Women’s Singles Semi-Finals match on Arthur Ashe Stadium during the US Open Tennis Championship 2023

“My boyfriend, he’ll probably come to maybe some tournaments in the U.S. It’s just a little bit easier than coming to Europe,” Gauff tells PEOPLE of her partner who she’s been dating for over a year, but has kept his identity private.

Gauff’s boyfriend has supported her at major tournaments in the past, like the 2023 U.S. Open, but it’s unlikely he’ll be joining her in France for the Summer Olympics. “I think just right now my mom and dad because it’s in Paris… it’s far away from home,” the player says.

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The first-year Olympian, meanwhile, previously qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, but had to withdraw from the Games after testing positive for COVID-19. Now, Gauff says she’s “really looking forward” to competing this year.

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“Fingers crossed nothing happens to me at the last minute again!” she says. “But I’m really happy to have my shot at a medal… every time I see somebody else with a gold medal, I want one so bad.”

Work and family aren’t the only two priorities Gauff is a pro at balancing! She also focuses on a balanced diet, too, which is why she’s partnering with Naked, known for its real fruit juice smoothies.

“I’ve basically been playing tennis for my whole life and at a pretty high level, so eating healthy has always been a priority of mine,” Gauff tells PEOPLE. “I prefer to keep it as natural as possible… it’s very easy to mix it in with what I already do on the court.”