Coco Gauff has already achieved what most athletes solely dream of—and he or she’s nonetheless simply getting began. At solely 21 years previous, the tennis phenom has climbed the ranks to turn into one of many sport’s brightest stars, all whereas holding a grounded perspective. “Generally my dad will say, ‘You possibly can afford to deal with your self.’ However I come from a middle-class household, so even the required issues, like flights and resort rooms, nonetheless appear rather a lot to me,” she advised The Guardian in an interview forward of the 2023 Wimbledon event.
Since making headlines as a teen sensation at Wimbledon, Gauff has continued to ship on the courtroom, profitable her first Grand Slam on the 2023 US Open and incomes reward from tennis legends like Chris Evert, who predicted, “She’s going to win a Grand Slam… it’s going to occur for her ultimately.”
That prediction has already come true—and now, Coco reveals no indicators of slowing down. Right here’s what to know concerning the champion reshaping the way forward for tennis beneath.
Coco Gauff Is a Tennis Participant
Born on March 13, 2004, Cori “Coco” Grauff grew up in Atlanta. She grew to become interested by Tennis at age 4 after watching Serena Williams win the Australian Open in 2009. She started taking part in at age six, and at age seven, her household moved to Delray Seaside, Florida, the place she may have higher coaching alternatives. Coco credit profitable the “Little Mo” eight-and-under nationals as when she knew she needed to be a tennis participant when she grew up. “I beloved tennis,” she stated in 2020, per The Guardian. “I used to be so-so about it to start with as a result of after I was youthful, I didn’t need to apply in any respect. I simply needed to play with my pals. Once I turned eight, that was after I performed ‘Little Mo’ and after that, I made a decision to try this for the remainder of my life.”
She Is Following in Serena Williams’ Footsteps
In 2017, Coco listed her favourite gamers within the following order: “Serena, Venus [Williams], Madison Keys, and Sloan Stephens,” she stated, per ESPN. Coco met first met Serena on the “Little Mo” event in New York, and so they met once more in 2015 through the taking pictures of a Delta business in West Palm Seaside. “It was enjoyable, a terrific expertise,” Cori stated to ESPN. “She has at all times been my favourite participant. I bought to hit some serves to her. I additionally met her in Good, France [at the Patrick Mouratoglou training facility].”4
At age ten, Coco started coaching at France’s Mouratoglou Academy, run by Serena’s longtime coach. The coaching appeared to repay. In 2014, she gained the USTA Clay Court docket Nationwide 12-under title. On the time, she was 10 years, 3 months previous, the youngest champion in historical past.
Coco Had a Breakout in 2019
Coco turned professional in 2018 and made her WTA debut on the Miami Open, per ESPN. She gained her first match earlier than dropping within the second spherical. Her massive breakout got here the next yr. After dropping in straight units within the second spherical of qualifying on the French Open, Coco secured a spot in Wimbledon after her software for a wildcard entry was accredited. She surged by way of qualifying and defeated Venus Williams earlier than in the end dropping within the fourth spherical to eventual champion, Simona Halep. “I wouldn’t be right here with out you,” Coco advised Venus following her Wimbledon victory. Venus had already had 4 grand slam wins underneath her belt earlier than Coco was born in 2004.
Made for the large stage ✨@CocoGauff turns into the youngest participant since 1991 to win within the first spherical of the women’ singles, beating Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/hfgcQGdZtq
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2019
The run resulted in Coco being ranked No. 141 on this planet. She continued her success on the 2019 US Open, reaching the third spherical the place she was defeated by the world No. 1 and defending champion, Naomi Osaka.
…And Received Her First WTA Singles Title at Age 15
After making a splash at Wimbledon and the US Open, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than Coco claimed her first WTA victory. She gained the 2019 Linz Open in Austria, defeating Jelena Ostapenko within the finale. She was 15 on the time. She gained her second WTA event in Might 2021, claiming the Emilia-Romagna Open after defeating Wang Qiang in two straight units.
In 2022, she made all of it the best way to the ultimate of the French Open. She fell to Iga Świątek in two straight units.
She Makes use of Her Platform to Unfold a Message
Coco has used her fame and superstar standing to talk out on social justice, significantly the numerous variety of Black women and men killed by police in America. “Wimbledon has given me a possibility to lift cash and lift consciousness for different issues and I’m glad that I used to be capable of,” she advised The Guardian. “With each match I win, I appear to get an increasing number of individuals following me, in order that’s good. And which means an increasing number of consciousness of topics I care about. I at all times needed to not simply be a tennis participant.”
“These days, youthful individuals are main actions, and I assume the world has to get used to it as a result of we’re used to older individuals telling us what to do,” she added. “My era has simply determined it was time to talk up on our personal about issues. I do observe the [climate] motion rather a lot, and I’m studying about methods we are able to higher change, no less than my way of life and the best way my household lives.”
