In the world of professional tennis, supplements are almost a given. From magnesium to omega-3s, players rely on them to power through the season packed with relentless travel and time zone changes. Some, like Novak Djokovic, go so far as to create their own—his SILA electrolyte hydration cubes exist because he couldn’t trust what was already on the market. Others, like Daniil Medvedev, swear by them. He even admitted, “I would die on court” without supplements. But he also stays cautious, knowing contamination is a growing concern. And with doping cases piling up, his fear is justified. So, where does Coco Gauff stand on this? Well, she’s an exception.

To everyone’s surprise, Gauff doesn’t take any supplements. None at all. In an interview with ‘The National News‘, the 21-year-old revealed, “Personally, I don’t take supplements or vitamins. I’m not saying I’ll never take any in the future, but because I was on the circuit at 15 and a lot of people wanted me to take supplements—not health professionals, just coaches and things like that.” She added, “And my parents said: ‘No, the doctor doesn’t recommend it for her. And she is 15 years old. Let her grow, let her mature, let her do things naturally.’ Obviously, some people do it because they have a deficiency or things like that. Fortunately for me, I have not yet had this result. So that’s personally why I decided not to do it, because I feel like it won’t bring me anything more.”

Both her parents are sportspersons. Corey Gauff is a former Division I basketball player who competed at Georgia State University. Her mother, Candi, was a collegiate track and field athlete at Florida State University, specializing in hurdles and heptathlon. The American tennis star’s father was even a healthcare executive, so his judgment on supplements might be that of an expert.

However, many players are used to taking multiple supplements daily. Take Iga Swiatek, for instance—when she had to declare her intake after her doping case, she listed 14 different supplements. Medvedev himself shrugged at the number, saying, “It’s not a lot. Look, you get sick in tennis. In normal life, you take one paracetamol, it’s fine. In tennis, you get sick, you have a match the next day, you try to take vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B, paracetamol, whatever helps you. Here you go, 10 just because of being sick.” The Russian tennis star added, “So I think I’m not surprised if I see 30. I’m not surprised if I see 13. I would actually be surprised if I see someone at the top put like four supplements [on their declaration form]. I would be really shocked.”

Trust has become a serious issue in the sport. Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner’s high-profile doping cases only fuel the paranoia. Both tested positive due to contamination—Swiatek tested positive for TMZ through a sleeping pill taken for jet lag, and Sinner, after his physio, unknowingly transferred clostebol to him during a massage. With stakes this high, caution is more than justified.

Health, however, remains the top priority, and the Miami Open is proving its commitment to it.

Coco Gauff gets a health check at the Miami Open

The Masters 1000 tournament has transformed Hard Rock Stadium into a medical hub, offering screenings that cover everything from cardiology to dermatology. Athletes undergo over 11 doctor visits to ensure they’re in peak condition. And Coco Gauff recently got a firsthand experience of this.

Just hours ago, the WTA’s official Instagram shared a video featuring Gauff, Asia Muhammad, Caroline Garcia, and Yue Yuan. In the clip, an excited Gauff said, “Hey guys, it’s Coco here, and I just want to talk to you guys about my amazing experience here in the WTA with Hologic at our annual physicals. And it’s not your ordinary physical. I got to check my bone health with DXA. I got to do a dermatology exam. I got to do a breast exam. I got to speak with an Ob-Gyn and so much more. And I am super thankful to be on this tour that cares and promotes women’s health. And you guys should celebrate that too. Thank you, bye.”

Despite prioritizing health, Gauff’s season hasn’t been going according to plan. She bowed out of the Miami Open in the fourth round, an early exit for the former US Open champion. With the clay season ahead, she has the perfect opportunity to turn things around. Can she find her rhythm and get back to winning ways?