Who is tennis player Coco Gauff?
Coco Gauff, whose full name is Cori Dionne Gauff, is an American professional tennis player born on March 13, 2004, in Delray Beach, Florida. Known professionally as Coco Gauff, she rose to international attention as a teenager and became one of the leading players of her generation. Her major achievements include winning the 2023 US Open women’s singles title, reaching the French Open singles final, and winning Grand Slam doubles titles. She is known for her athletic court coverage, powerful baseline play, and competitive return game.
Background/biography
Gauff was born to Candi and Corey Gauff. Her father played college basketball at Georgia State University, while her mother competed in track and field at Florida State University. She spent part of her childhood in Atlanta before her family returned to Delray Beach, where her tennis development became a central focus.
She began playing tennis as a young child and was encouraged by her parents, who supported her training and eventually helped manage her early development. Gauff has said that watching Serena and Venus Williams inspired her to pursue the sport. She was homeschooled as her junior tennis schedule became more demanding.
Tennis career
- Reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2019 after defeating five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round.
- Won her first WTA Tour singles title at the 2019 Linz Open.
- Reached her first Grand Slam singles final at the 2022 French Open.
- Won the 2022 French Open women’s doubles title with Jessica Pegula.
- Won the 2023 US Open women’s singles title, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
- Won the 2023 WTA Finals singles title.
- Won the 2024 French Open women’s doubles title with Kateřina Siniaková.
Gauff became widely known in 2019 when, at age 15, she qualified for the Wimbledon main draw and defeated Venus Williams. Her run established her as one of the sport’s most closely watched young players.
Her breakthrough Grand Slam singles victory came at the 2023 US Open in New York. The title made her the first American teenager to win the tournament since Serena Williams in 1999. Gauff has also achieved top rankings in both singles and doubles on the WTA Tour.
A defining US Open breakthrough
Gauff’s 2023 US Open victory was a defining moment in her career. After losing in the opening round at Wimbledon earlier that year, she and her team made adjustments to her preparation and tactics during the North American hard-court season. She went on to win titles in Washington, D.C., and Cincinnati before capturing her first Grand Slam singles championship in New York.
Beyond tennis, Gauff has drawn attention for speaking publicly about social issues and for her poise in high-profile matches and media appearances. She was also selected as one of the United States flag bearers, alongside LeBron James, for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Did you know?
- Gauff became the youngest player in the Open Era to qualify for the Wimbledon main draw when she did so in 2019 at age 15.
- She defeated Venus Williams in her first Wimbledon main-draw match in 2019.
- Her first WTA Tour singles title came in Linz, Austria, in 2019.
- She has competed successfully in both singles and doubles, reaching the top of the WTA doubles rankings during her career.
- Gauff was named as a United States flag bearer for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
