

“Sundays are made for Jesus. So are Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays,” goes the adage. Coco Gauff’s faith in her religion has been evident through her career’s journey ever since the World No.3 made her WTA debut in 2018. Alongside her family, she always puts God first when it comes to any major event in her life. But why?
In 2023, when she won her first Major at the US Open, Gauff reflected on her previous Slam final where she lost against Iga Swiatek at the Roland Garros in 2022. “That French Open loss was a heartbreak. I realized God puts you through trials. This makes this moment even sweeter than I could imagine.” Reaffirming her faith in God once again, ahead of the next season, Coco Gauff took to her Instagram and shared a story, dated December 25.
Welcoming Christmas with open arms, she shared an IG post from DixieHart, a Clothing Brand based in Alabama, and wrote “happy birthday Jesus ❤️” while celebrating the Eve. For the unversed, her religious inclination and gratefulness to God were majorly spotted first at the US Open last year. She defeated none other than arch rival Aryna Sabalenka at the Flushing Meadows, with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Despite trailing by the end of first set, the 20-year-old didn’t give up on her efforts and made a historic comeback to lift the trophy.
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The moment she clinched the championship point against the Belarusian, Coco kneeled down.
She then prayed to the God for her Grand Slam glory. Although she’s still very young, the American has always prioritized the importance of faith in her life. It’s something she’s been doing since childhood.
During her matches, she’s often seen praying prior to her on-court battles against her opponents. Reflecting on this habit, she once said, “Before every match since I was 8, my dad and I say a prayer together.” She revealed it during an interview with the New York Times in 2019.

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Is Coco Gauff's success a testament to her talent, or is her faith the real game-changer?
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But what does she ask God before her encounters? More victories and trophies?
“We don’t really pray about victory, just that me and my opponent stay safe,” she said. Earlier this year, she touched upon how religion has played a key role in her life while growing up.
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When Coco Gauff threw light on her religious side
After outperforming Elina Svitolina in the third round of the US Open, back in August, Coco got involved in a post-match interview. She managed to clinch a thrilling victory after making a heroic return with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. During the media interaction, she later revealed her religious side while explaining how she’s imbibed it on a personal level.
“I have two journals. I read the bible every day. Then I have a personal one where I just write usually the night before I play. It’s something I’ve always done, but just do it more frequently because it holds you accountable for your feelings and your thoughts. Every match I’ve been going in, I just don’t want to leave with any regret,” she said.
Reflecting on her faith and how it plays into her profession, Coco Gauff added, “There are matches where you lose and you’re like ‘I mentally wasn’t here’ and that’s completely fine, those are things you can’t control at the moment. But, for a more emotional and mental approach, I don’t want to have any regrets.”
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Her US Open triumph isn’t the only time when she remembered Jesus and thanked him for her achievements.
A month prior to her Grand Slam win at the Flushing Meadows last year, she also won the Cincinnati Masters. After defeating Karolina Muchova in the title clash, Coco reiterated her faith in God and said, “I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s been a lot of nights alone crying trying to figure it out. And you know, I still have a lot to figure out. But you know, I thank Him for covering me.” And that’s how Gauff remembers Jesus through the week, months and years!
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Is Coco Gauff's success a testament to her talent, or is her faith the real game-changer?