‘I’m Not Always Composed’ – Coco Gauff Gets Honest About Her ‘Negative’ Energy During Toronto Practice

Coco Gauff has reached Toronto and begun gearing up for her campaign at the 2026 Canadian Open. Ahead of her opening match at the WTA 1000 event, the American revealed the secret behind her composure on the court.

What Coco Gauff Said About Her ‘Negative Energy’ at the Canadian Open

Gauff is still searching for her first title of the season after finishing as the runner-up at two WTA 1000 events and falling short in the Wimbledon semifinals before the North American hardcourt swing. Having lost in the fourth round of the Canadian Open last year, the world No. 4 will look to make a deeper run this time around.

During her pre-tournament press conference, Gauff shared an insight into her usually composed demeanor on the court. She revealed that she tends to be more negative during her practice sessions, including in Toronto, which allows her to vent that frustration before matches.

“Yeah, I think some matches I do better with doing that than others. Yeah, honestly, in practice I can be pretty negative. I think yesterday I was like pretty negative during my practice. I think that’s where I get all my negative energy out,” Gauff said.

The 22-year-old explained that she makes a conscious effort to keep her emotions in check during matches, since she doesn’t want to reveal any sign of vulnerability in front of her opponents. She disclosed that her calm exterior is often just a facade.

“But honestly, in the match I just try to give myself the best shot to win. I feel like tennis is a game of small margins, so if you show your opponent something, then maybe they can use that as energy,” she continued. “So I try my best to just show that I’m composed, I’m not always composed, but just show it, and sometimes it’s really just fake it till you make it.”

Gauff also opened up about how she has been making the most of her downtime ahead of her opening match, which included catching a screening of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” She emphasized the importance of disconnecting during extended time away from home and family, while joking about her regrets over a bowling trip.

“Yeah, I love the movies. Probably my favorite thing to do. Went to Spiderman last night, so that was really fun. I, like, bought tickets, like probably a month in advance or something,” Gauff said. “I just love it. I think unplugging is like the best thing.”

“We are here on tour, away from family, so it’s nice to find things that make you feel relaxed, and for me that’s movies and escape rooms. We went bowling the other night, but I lost so, honestly, I regret going because I lost like 60 dollars, so,” she added.

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No. 4 seed Coco Gauff will be on the hunt for her maiden Canadian Open title when she commences her campaign in the second round, following a first-round bye. The American is set to lock horns with the winner of the match between Kayla Day and Diane Parry in her tournament opener.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.