NEW YORK — In the high-stakes, intensely personal world of professional tennis, where on-court rivalries are forged and broken in the span of a single match, one of the sport's biggest stars has developed a unique tactic to sidestep the potential for pre-match awkwardness. The American tennis star, widely regarded as the wealthiest player at this year's US Open, has a secret hack to maintain focus and avoid distracting encounters with opponents before stepping onto the court.
The player in question is none other than Coco Gauff, the reigning US Open champion whose prize money, endorsements, and burgeoning business empire have catapulted her net worth to an estimated $20 million, making her the tournament's richest competitor. While her powerful groundstrokes and blistering speed are her most visible weapons, it's a subtle psychological strategy that helps her navigate the often cramped and tense player areas.
Gauff’s tactic is deceptively simple yet brilliantly effective: she wears her noise-canceling headphones virtually everywhere backstage, but not always for the reason one might assume. While they do help her get into the zone with a curated playlist, their primary function is to create a visible, socially acceptable barrier that allows her to control her interactions. "It avoids those awkward encounters," a source close to the player revealed.
The Psychology of Pre-Match Avoidance
Sports psychologists affirm that the moments leading up to a match are critical for mental preparation. Any unexpected social interaction, even a simple "good luck," can disrupt an athlete's carefully constructed focus and routine. For a player of Gauff's stature, who is friendly with many of her rivals on the WTA Tour, the potential for these encounters is constant and can be emotionally draining.
Dr. Rebecca Johnson, a performance psychologist who has worked with elite athletes, explains the science behind the strategy. "The brain is in a state of priming itself for maximum performance. An unexpected social cue forces a cognitive shift from an internal, focused state to an external, social one. This shift, however minor, uses mental energy and can increase anxiety or break concentration. A visual cue like headphones effectively signals to others that the athlete is 'in the zone' and not available for interaction, preventing that cognitive drain before it even has a chance to start."
More Than Just Music: A Deliberate Strategy
For Gauff, the headphones are a non-verbal communication tool. She is known for her sportsmanship and friendliness on tour, which makes pre-match avoidance tactics crucial to balance camaraderie with competition. The strategy allows her to be polite without being engaged, preserving her mental energy for the battle ahead.
This approach is particularly useful when facing close friends or recent opponents. A source within the player's team outlined the common scenarios the headphones help navigate:
- Avoiding a rival after a tense or controversial previous match.
- Preventing well-meaning but distracting small talk.
- Maintaining a competitive aura in shared warm-up areas.
The tactic is not about being rude; it's about professional preservation. "Coco is one of the most respectful players in the locker room," the team source added. "But she's also a fierce competitor. This is a way to manage the unique social ecosystem of the tour without compromising her mindset. Everyone understands it's part of the game. You'll often see her opponents doing the exact same thing."
A Common Practice Among the Elite
While Gauff has perfected it, she is far from the only player to employ this method. The sight of top players like Novak Djokovic, Iga Świątek, and Rafael Nadal traversing the tunnels of major stadiums with oversized headphones is a staple of tennis broadcasts. It’s a universal symbol of pre-match concentration that transcends language barriers.
What sets Gauff's use apart is the open acknowledgment of its dual purpose. It’s a widely recognized but rarely spoken-about rule of the player’s lounge: if the headphones are on, the conversation is off. This unspoken code of conduct helps maintain a respectful distance among athletes who are simultaneously colleagues and adversaries.
Beyond the Headphones: A Holistic Approach
The headphone tactic is just one part of Gauff's broader mental conditioning regimen, which has been a key factor in her ascent to Grand Slam champion. Since partnering with coach Brad Gilbert, her ability to manage in-match emotions and external pressures has become a hallmark of her game. This off-court strategy complements her on-court resilience, allowing her to enter a match with a clear and undisturbed mind.
It’s a lesson in controlling the controllables. While she cannot dictate the draw, the weather, or her opponent's form, she can absolutely control her own environment and interactions in the critical hour before play begins. In a sport where margins are razor-thin, this small hack provides a significant mental edge, proving that sometimes the richest rewards come from the simplest strategies.
As the US Open progresses and the pressure mounts, fans will see Gauff walking purposefully through the halls of Arthur Ashe Stadium, her headphones serving as a shield. It’s a silent declaration that while she may be the richest player in the tournament, her most valuable asset—her focus—is protected by a simple piece of technology and a savvy understanding of the mental game.