Coco Gauff on her Oura Ring, US Open Hopes, and Her Love Island Thoughts
Overview
In a new sit-down with Vogue, Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff opens up about a side of professional tennis fans rarely see: the recovery science behind the matches. The conversation ranges from her nightly REM cycle readings to how she uses her Oura ring to fine-tune training loads, plus a lighter detour into her US Open preparation and off-court pop culture opinions, including a nod to Love Island. For readers who want to shop the athleisure and accessories she favors between practices, the Shapeshe store carries similar pieces.
Inside Gauff's Sleep Routine and the Oura Ring
The Oura ring has become one of the most popular wearables among elite athletes because it tracks sleep stages, heart rate variability, and a nightly "readiness" score without the bulk of a wrist tracker. Gauff describes checking her REM cycle data as part of a broader habit of treating sleep as a training variable, not an afterthought. For a player who competes across multiple time zones and surfaces throughout the season, consistent deep-sleep tracking can flag early signs of overtraining or the kind of fatigue that doesn't show up until match day. It's a habit that mirrors a wider shift in tennis, where players increasingly lean on data from wearables to time practice intensity, travel recovery, and even meal timing around competition.
US Open Preparation
As a former US Open champion, Gauff heads into this year's tournament with both the pressure and the confidence of having won on that stage before. The interview touches on how she's structuring her lead-up: balancing match play, physical recovery, and mental preparation for the pressure of a home Slam played in front of a New York crowd that has closely followed her career since her teenage breakthrough. Hard-court season is notoriously demanding on the body, which ties directly back to why recovery metrics like sleep quality have become such a visible part of her routine this summer.
Her Love Island Thoughts
Not every part of the conversation is about training. Gauff also weighs in on Love Island, giving Vogue a glimpse of how she unwinds away from the court. The show has become a go-to background watch for many young athletes and celebrities navigating long travel schedules, and Gauff's comments add her to the growing list of high performers who admit reality TV is part of their downtime routine, not just a guilty pleasure.
FAQ
What does the Oura ring actually measure? It tracks sleep stages (including REM), resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and body temperature trends, compiling them into daily readiness and sleep scores.
Why do tennis players care about REM sleep specifically? REM sleep is linked to cognitive recovery and reaction time, both of which matter for split-second decisions during rallies.
Has Gauff won the US Open before? Yes, she is a former US Open champion, which adds context to her current preparation for the tournament.
Source
Originally published at www.vogue.com.