Discover how Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka prove that performance rooted in mental strength and body respect are key to a fitness practice that lasts.
If you want to build a consistent fitness habit, you’re going to need more than a workout plan.
Because whether you’re a Grand Slam tennis champ or just trying to get yourself to move three times a week, the truth is the same:
Fitness isn’t just physical. It’s mental.
That’s why watching the first week of Wimbledon 2025 felt like a masterclass in mindset.
Let’s talk about Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka — two powerhouse women athletes, both known for their excellence, their honesty, and their refusal to pretend that mindset doesn’t matter.
And let’s talk about what it has to do with you, your relationship with movement, and how Intuitive Fitness Coaching and Body Image Coaching can help you create the kind of fit mindset that doesn’t disappear the minute life gets hard.
Table of Contents
- Discover how Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka prove that performance rooted in mental strength and body respect are key to a fitness practice that lasts.
- Coco Gauff: Even Champions Have Off Days
- Naomi Osaka: Coming Back With Compassion
- They May Be Solo on Court, But They Have a Whole Team Behind Them
- Building a Fit Mindset: What We Can Learn From Wimbledon
- How Sports Improve Self-Perception and Mental Health in Women and Girls
- Body Neutrality: A Game-Changer for Body Image
- Ready to Build a Mindset That Lasts?
Coco Gauff: Even Champions Have Off Days
Coco Gauff came into Wimbledon 2025 fresh off a huge win at the French Open.
Expectations were sky-high.
But in a shocking turn, she was knocked out in the first round by Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska.
After the match, Gauff said:
“I feel like mentally I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards, so I didn’t feel like I had enough time to do, I guess celebrate and then also get back into it.” (Source: ESPN)
Gauff’s loss wasn’t due to a lack of skill or preparation.
It came down to something more subtle: the mental and emotional pressure of showing up when expectations are heavy.
Sound familiar?
It’s the same kind of pressure so many of us feel trying to start (or stick with) a fitness practice:
- “I should be further along by now.”
- “Why can’t I stay motivated?”
- “Everyone else seems to make this look easy.”
Intuitive Fitness Coaching helps you identify those thought patterns, reframe them, and build tools to keep moving anyway—even when you’re not feeling your best.
Because no matter how much you’ve already achieved, your brain will still try to get in your way.
Naomi Osaka: Coming Back With Compassion
Naomi Osaka made headlines at Wimbledon, too — not for a win, but for the way she showed up.
Back after two years away from tennis and now two years into motherhood, Osaka gave a powerful post-match interview after her third-round exit.
She admitted:
“I feel like I’m very tough on myself… I think my coach has high expectations of me, and I obviously want to live up to them.” (Source: BBC Sport)
And the fact that she’s still finding her footing after a break, despite being a former World No. 1? That’s a reminder that consistency doesn’t mean perfection.
Osaka is someone who’s openly championed mental health for years, even taking extended breaks from competition in 2021 and 2022 to focus on her wellbeing.
She’s proof that rest, mental clarity, and boundaries are part of the game — in tennis and in life.
They May Be Solo on Court, But They Have a Whole Team Behind Them
Here’s the part people forget:
Even though tennis is an individual sport, no one does it alone.
Both Gauff and Osaka have teams of:
- Coaches
- Trainers
- Physical therapists
- Nutritionists
- Sports psychologists
- Family & support staff
They may be the ones holding the racquet, but there are dozens of people behind the scenes helping them stay strong in body and mind.
So if you’re trying to do this whole “get fit and stay well” thing all by yourself? Of course it’s hard.
That’s where Intuitive Fitness Coaching comes in.
It’s not just a workout plan. It’s:
- Weekly mindset coaching
- Body image support
- Training that adapts to your real life
- Accountability that doesn’t feel like shame
In other words: your support team.
Because just like the pros, you deserve people in your corner.
Building a Fit Mindset: What We Can Learn From Wimbledon
Both Coco and Naomi reminded us that a fit mindset means:
- Showing up, even when you don’t feel your best
- Giving yourself grace when things go sideways
- Focusing on what you can control (your effort, your attitude, your next step)
- Remembering that even the elite have bad days, bad matches, and big emotions
If you want to build a fitness habit that actually sticks?
You need mindset tools, not just motivation.
You need support, not just sweat.
And you need a way to feel successful even on the days when you’re not at 100%.
That’s the magic of intuitive fitness and body image coaching.
It’s not about pushing through. It’s about knowing when to push, when to pause, and when to pivot.
How Sports Improve Self-Perception and Mental Health in Women and Girls
Participation in sports and movement-based activities improves more than just physical health—it directly impacts mental health, confidence, and self-image, especially for women and girls.
Studies show that young women who play sports report higher self-esteem, stronger leadership skills, and greater resilience in the face of challenges. Movement becomes a space to witness their strength in real time—not just for how their bodies look, but for what their bodies can do.
And it’s not just for elite athletes.
Whether you’re on a competitive team or learning how to run a mile for the first time, movement helps you:
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Build trust in your body
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Feel pride in progress, not perfection
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Develop coping tools for stress, anxiety, and mood
And when guided with care, it can become a lifelong source of empowerment.
Body Neutrality: A Game-Changer for Body Image
Most people think body image work means learning to love your body all the time.
But the truth is: that’s not always realistic.
That’s where body neutrality comes in.
Body neutrality shifts the focus away from how your body looks—and instead toward how it feels, what it does, and what it needs.
It’s a liberating approach that helps reduce body shame, improve self-image, and open up space for actual wellness—not just the appearance of it.
Through Body Image Coaching, clients learn to:
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Break free from critical self-talk
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Practice acceptance, not obsession
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Reclaim energy from food and body worries to focus on what actually matters
This mindset shift improves consistency, motivation, and peace with your body—so you can move through the world with more ease and less comparison.
Ready to Build a Mindset That Lasts?
If you’re tired of quitting and restarting every few months…
If you want a fitness practice that respects your humanity, not just your hustle…
Then let’s work together.
👉🏽 Learn more about 1:1 Intuitive Fitness Coaching here
Because you don’t need to be a tennis champion to train like one.
You just need support, strategy, and self-trust.
And I’ve got you.
