Tennis Champion Coco Gauff’s No. 1 Pre-Match Meal Is This 5-Ingredient Recipe

Professional American tennis player Cori “Coco” Gauff knows a thing or two about winning. In 2019 at age 15, Gauff entered Wimbledon as a wild card, and ultimately defeated the five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams. From there, Gauff’s ascent as a tennis superstar has been a steady journey.

She won the 2023 U.S. Open at age 19, the first teenager to do so in more than two decades, in the most-watched women’s tennis final in ESPN history. She was one of TIME’s Women of the Year for 2024 and was recently a flag bearer for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

So, what keeps one of the world’s best tennis players fueled when the competition gets heated? Something in the realm of what many of us non-pro athletes like to eat all the time: a big ole bowl of pasta.

Ahead, we delve into Gauff’s go-to pre-match meal, how she refuels after a big tournament, and the exact five-ingredient pasta recipe she swears by for taking down her opponents.

The perfect pre-match meal, according to Coco Gauff

“Pasta’s always been a part of my life…and it’s been my pre-match meal pretty much since I’ve started tennis,” says Gauff.

“Pasta’s always been a part of my life…and it’s been my pre-match meal pretty much since I’ve started tennis.” —Coco Gauff

The reason her love for pasta runs deep boils down (pun intended) to a few simple reasons: “The taste is really good, and I think it’s very versatile,” she says. “It could be the same pasta, but it can be different styles, different cuts, different sauces, different meats, and you get completely different flavors. And it’s the easiest way for me to fuel up. I need a lot of carbs before I play, and I need a lot of fuel. Pasta is the easiest way to get the carbs, protein, and enjoyment before a match.”

The pasta recipe Coco Gauff makes for pre-match fuel

Now, for the Coco Gauff pasta recipe for success. While Gauff says cacio e pepe or pesto pasta are her day-to-day favorite recipes, before a match, her go-to is penne pasta with tomato sauce, chicken, and spinach.

“I keep it pretty simple and go pretty light on the tomato sauce before matches,” she says, adding that she loves topping it off with Parmesan cheese.

“Sometimes, I have to eat really fast depending on the match and how fast the match before me is going…I can just pick up penne with the fork and not have to twirl or anything.” —Gauff

As for why Gauff specifically seeks penne in her pre-match recipes? “I would say normally I’m more of a spaghetti girl, but prematch, I go with penne because it’s just the easiest for me to not spill sauce on me,” she says. “Sometimes, I have to eat really fast depending on the match and how fast the match before me is going…I can just pick it up with the fork and not have to twirl or anything.” Efficiency meets practicality—we’re all for it.

Protein Penne Pasta

Yields 4 servings
Ingredients1 box Barilla Chickpea Penne1 cup tomato sauce, such as Rao’s6 cups packed baby spinach2 Tbsp. olive oil1 lb. rottiserie chicken breast1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, gratedFreshly ground black pepper and sea salt, to taste

1. 1.
   Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add a generous pinch of salt, then cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
2. 2.
   Drain, reserving some of the cooking water, and add pasta back to the pot. Add tomato sauce and spinach.
3. 3.
   Cook over low heat, adding olive oil as needed to prevent sticking, until spinach begins to wilt.
4. 4.
   Add chicken and toss to combine. If it needs loosening up, add some of the reserved paste water.
5. 5.
   Top with Parmesan cheese and add pepper and salt to taste.
6. 6.
   Serve immediately.

What Gauff eats after a big match

After competing, Gauff focuses on two things: Refueling and rehydrating her body. This often involves a second serving of her go-to pasta or a rice recipe with salmon and a vegetable. She also loves pesto, often pairing that with either shrimp or chicken. “It just kind of depends on how I’m feeling that day,” she says of how she decides on a post-match meal.

In addition to a nourishing post-tournament meal, Gauff also focuses on replenishing electrolytes—her go-to is Pedialyte Sport.

“It’s the best thing ever; I’ve never had cramping or anything with that. And then obviously water,” she says. While playing tennis, Gauff’s water and Pedialyte intake is a two-to-one ratio of Pedialyte to water. “I would try to drink more Pedialyte than water when I’m on the court just because we lose a lot of salts when we’re sweating. So we try to replenish that as quickly as we can,” Gauff says.

Gauff also likes to rely on hydrating snacks during a match. “I love to eat fruit on the court. I’m not really the type who likes to use energy gels or anything. I prefer to keep it natural, and I think fruit gives me the right amount of sugar I need,” she says.

Pineapple, grapes, and strawberries are her favorites. And although she says she adores mango, she prefers to enjoy it off the court; handling the racket after noshing on super juicy fruits can be a little messy at best.