COCO GAUFF is squeezing in the taste of glory while she still can.
The new French Open champ served up a treat for herself as she returned to the USA for brief downtime ahead of Wimbledon.
Coco Gauff looked to be loving her downtime as she watched the Chicago Sky take on New York Liberty at Barclays Center in Brooklyn[/caption]
The new Roland Garros queen showed off her treat[/caption]
New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu unveiled this team shirt for Gauff[/caption]
And what better way to unwind than taking in a game with your favorite children’s snack?
The American looked happy to share her sweet secret court-side as she watched New York Liberty take on Chicago Sky in the WNBA at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Gauff, 21, even gave it pride of place – as she perched her packet of Sour Patch Kids candy on her lap in front of a shoulder bag.
The superstar smiled to a camera as she gave a peace sign at the women’s basketball match – or was it a hint about how many candies she had already consumed?
Cool Coco was chic but casual – wearing a blue bomber-style jacket, ripped back jeans and New Balance sneakers.
An infinity chain topped off her fashionable appearance.
Alongside her were brother Cameron and businesswoman Vanessa Bryant, the widow of NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
Gauff’s carb-high snack might surprise many observers in the days of rigorous diet and training programs for elite athletes.
Likewise, popping back from Europe to the US before Wimbledon might also be seen as unusual.
But it suggests Gauff enjoys a healthy balance between a supreme regime of fitness and occasionally letting her hair down.
And if anyone deserves a break, it’s surely the first-time winner of the French Open.
She was also presented with a “25” Liberty shirt by their 27-year-old icon Sabrina Ionescu after they sunk Chicago 85-66.
Gauff now has two Slams to her name – after winning the 2023 US Open.
Now she’ll be confident of producing her best-ever run at Wimbledon.
The World No. 2 has never bettered reaching the last 16.
But doing so three times already at her tender age – in 2019, 2021 and last year – indicates she can be a consistent title threat for a decade or more.
It comes after Gauff was “surprised” to hear beaten World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka say the duo played “terrible tennis” in the Roland Garros final victim.
The Belarusian hit 70 unforced errors and blasted windy conditions as a “joke” as Gauff battled back to triumph 6-7 6-2 6-4 on Saturday.
But tearful Sabalenka did add: “Coco congrats. In these tough conditions, you were a better player than me. Well deserved. You are a fighter and a hard worker.”
Gauff responded: “I’m gonna give her the benefit of the doubt.
“I’m sure it was an emotional day, emotional match.”
Aryna Sabalenka says her French Open final loss hurt deeply[/caption]
