"Just trying to learn how to cook" - Coco Gauff opens up on her culinary 'experiments' as she adjusts to living alone after leaving her parents' nest
Coco Gauff has opened up about learning to live independently after moving out of her parents' house. The American disclosed that she was trying to pick up important life skills since she could no longer lean on her parents to handle certain tasks.
Currently competing at the 2024 WTA Finals, Gauff kicked off her pursuit of her maiden title at the year-end championships with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win over compatriot Jessica Pegula. Drawn in the Orange Group, the World No. 3 will also lock horns with Iga Swiatek and Barbora Krejcikova during the group stage of the prestigious event.
Before heading to Riyadh for the WTA Finals, Gauff had opted to enjoy some much-needed downtime back home after the Asian swing. While in Florida, the American shared glimpses of her house, giving "all glory to God" for achieving her goal of being a homeowner at just 20 years of age.
In an interview with The National amid her WTA Finals campaign, Coco Gauff explained that she felt it was the right time to step out. However, she clarified that she hadn't distanced herself from her family entirely, as they lived in the same city and she frequently made trips to her parents' house to practice at the tennis court there.
"I just felt like this was a time for me to move out. But I'm still in the same city as my parents, and my parents have a court at home, so I practise there still. So it feels somewhat the same," Coco Gauff said.
Adjusting to living alone, the World No. 3 disclosed that she was learning how to cook, a skill she hadn't needed at her parents' house since both her mother Candi and father Corey enjoyed cooking. Gauff also shared that her culinary experiments had mostly resulted in success with only some failures.
"Obviously, I'm living alone, so I'm just trying to learn how to cook more, something I never really had to do living with both parents who like to cook. So it's been something that I've been experimenting with, and had some mostly successes, some failures," she added.
Coco Gauff: "I probably matured faster than a lot of people, but I think my parents did a good job of trying to make it as relaxed as possible"
Coco Gauff had opened up about being on the lookout for her own home earlier this year, shedding light on her desire to move out of her parents' house.
In an interview with the Daily Mail amid her Wimbledon campaign, the 20-year-old credited her parents for creating an environment that allowed her to enjoy her childhood even though she matured faster than her peers, having made her WTA Tour debut at just 15.
"I was definitely still able to be a kid. I probably matured faster than a lot of people, but I think my parents did a good job of trying to make it as relaxed as possible, set up an environment where I could still be a kid and surround me with people who respected that," Coco Gauff said.
Gauff also disclosed that while she continued to live with her parents after her triumph at the 2023 US Open, she had put the wheels in motion to purchase her own home.
"Not for long though! I'll still be in Delray, not far, just not at home. I'm in the process," she added.
In on-court matters, Coco Gauff will square off against Iga Swiatek in her second round-robin match at the 2024 WTA Finals. The American faces a difficult task ahead of her, as Swiatek enjoys an 11-1 lead in their head-to-head record. The Pole also emerged victorious in their most recent encounter in the 2024 French Open semifinals, beating Gauff 6-2, 6-4.