Coco Gauff advanced to the Italian Open semi-finals after defeating Mirra Andreeva 6-4, 7-6(5) on Wednesday, but it was her post-match comments about pasta that charmed the Rome crowd.
The American tennis star found herself fielding questions about her culinary preferences in a city renowned for its food culture.
When asked to explain her preference for Cacio e pepe over carbonara, Gauff playfully told the audience they could express their disapproval.
"If you had to choose between one I would choose Cacio e pepe, I don't know if you guys agree, if you don't, you can boo me - it's OK," Gauff said with a smile.
Coco Gauff has made some controversial comments about... pasta
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Gauff elaborated on her pasta preference during the on-court interview, explaining her choice between the two Roman classics.
"I just think Cacio e pepe is better," she said. "And I don't know if that is controversial here, I just like that better. But carbonara is still good, I just think Cacio e pepe is great."
The crowd at Centre Court didn't take her up on the offer to boo, instead responding with cheers of appreciation.
Cacio e pepe is a simple dish featuring cheese and pepper, while carbonara typically includes pancetta and a cheese sauce.
Pasta isn't just a preference for Gauff - it's part of her pre-match routine.
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The tennis star has previously revealed that Cacio e pepe or pesto pasta are her go-to meals before matches.
In a 2024 interview with WellAndGood, Gauff explained her practical approach: "I keep it pretty simple and go pretty light on the tomato sauce before matches."
She also disclosed a strategic pasta shape choice: "Normally I'm more of a spaghetti girl.
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Coco Gauff is through to the semi-final of the Italian Open
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"But pre-match, I go with penne because it's just the easiest for me to not spill sauce on me."
This practical consideration comes from sometimes needing "to eat really fast depending on the match."
Gauff's pasta-fueled performances have been impressive, with the American winning nine of her last ten matches heading into the French Open.
She dispatched Emma Raducanu with ease in an earlier round at Rome and has now won all four career matches against Andreeva.
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Emma Raducanu was thrashed by Coco Gauff on Monday to crash out of the Italian OpenReutersAfter her victory, Gauff acknowledged the challenging finish to the match.
"At the end it was tough, I think we were both tired in that tiebreaker," she said. "It was whoever could make one more ball on the court."
Gauff will face either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng in the semi-finals.
