Coco Gauff on The Player's Box: Games, Anecdotes, and Tennis Season Review

Personal Anecdotes & "Unforced Errors"

• 💡 Coco Gauff shared her "unforced error" of accidentally making overly strong spiked hot chocolate for a Secret Santa party, mistaking a shot glass for a mug.
• 😂 Jess Pagula recounted flooding her hotel bathroom after falling asleep with the shower running post-exhibition match.
• 👃 Jenny Brady described realizing a foul smell in her car was from hot air blowing on her sweaty clothes, not her protein shaker.
• 🐾 Desire Krawczyk shared a "winner of the week" story about helping a family find their lost dog, Nala, after fireworks.
• 🏃‍♀️ Madison Keys expressed her ongoing struggle and dislike for track workouts, particularly 400-meter sprints, despite trying to embrace running.

"Never Have I Ever" Revelations

• 🎭 The hosts discussed being mistaken for other tennis players, with Coco often confused for various black players like Serena or Sloane, and Maddie frequently for Jess.
• 📱 Coco admitted to DMing a TikTok influencer with a bald filter picture when she was 16, later unsending it.
• 🏆 Several hosts, including Coco, admitted to thinking about prize money purchases like bags or food after winning a big match.
• 🎾 Coco shared a story about forgetting her rackets before a French Open match, causing a frantic scramble but ultimately helping her overcome nervousness.
• 🍾 Many expressed nervousness about popping champagne on court after a win, with Coco needing help the first time and worrying about breaking a nail.

Behind the Scenes: United Cup & Kit Design

• 🤝 Coco highlighted the United Cup as a favorite memory from the 2025 season, praising the team camaraderie and escape room activities.
• 🧩 She mentioned Taylor Fritz's superstitious nature and competitive drive during the United Cup escape rooms.
• 👗 Coco revealed her involvement in designing Grand Slam kits up to two years in advance, using mood boards and refining visions with New Balance.
• 🚫 She recalled refusing to wear a basketball-inspired outfit for the Australian Open because it didn't look good on her, opting for a skirt instead.
• 😂 Coco shared a humorous anecdote about her mother calling Jess's dress "frumpy," emphasizing the importance of honesty in fashion choices.

"Coco or No-Go" Modern Etiquette

• 📸 Coco deemed posting Instagram stories with no caption as "Coco" (acceptable), and photo dumps on TikTok as "Coco" if done well.
• 💬 She approved of voice notes for practical reasons like not texting while driving, but called saying "LOL" out loud a definite "No-Go."
• 😡 Coco admitted to reading comments after a tough loss and drafting replies to "get it out of her system" before deleting them.
• 💖 She prefers a "soft launch" for relationships over a "hard launch," defining a hard launch as posting someone's face.
• 👕 Coco expressed a strong "No-Go" for wearing tennis clothes off the court unless going to work out, playfully calling out Jenny for doing it.

Tennis Insights & Fan Questions

• 🍝 Coco clarified that she is no longer sponsored by Barilla, but still buys their pasta and had advised them not to send bulk shipments.
• 🎬 She playfully called out Jess for not taking her to the movies despite past promises, a running joke between them.
• 👯‍♀️ Coco outlined doubles strategies for each host, noting Dez's lobbing and backhand, Maddie's serve and forehand, and Jenny's volleying and kick serve.
• 💪 For improving her game, Coco highlighted two-on-one drills for physical conditioning and hand feeds for feeling the ball and refining technique.