From dancing in the US Open stands at the age of eight to lifting the trophy in Arthur Ashe Stadium 11 years later, Cori "Coco" Gauff's rise in the tennis world has been meteoric. In 2023, she fulfilled her destiny by winning her home Grand Slam event, showcasing the immense potential that had been evident since her teenage years.
Coco Gauff's Early Years and Victory Over Venus Williams at 15
Born Cori Dionne Gauff on March 13, 2004, in Delray Beach, Florida, USA, she hails from a family of accomplished collegiate athletes. Her father, Corey Gauff, played basketball for Georgia State University, while her mother, Candi Odom Gauff, was a track athlete for Florida State University.
Gauff's talent for tennis became apparent early on, and aged 10, she went to France to train under Patrick Mouratoglou, the long-time coach of tennis superstar Serena Williams.
The youngster gained widespread recognition in 2019 when she received a wildcard entry to Wimbledon. In a stunning debut, the then 15-year-old defeated her childhood idol, Venus Williams, in the first round of the competition. Gauff's became the youngest player to reach the fourth round of the grass-court Slam since Jennifer Capriati in 1991. She further solidified her reputation as a future star by reaching the third round of the US Open later that year.
Coco Gauff's First Grand Slam Victory at US Open 2023
While she steadily climbed the WTA rankings with wins at the 2019 Linz Open and the 2021 Emilia-Romagna Open, a Grand Slam title remained elusive. In 2022, she reached the final of the French Open but succumbed to fellow rising star Iga Swiatek in straight sets, experiencing her first Grand Slam final loss.
Gauff opened 2023 with victory in the Auckland Open, but her form dipped considerably after that. Bringing Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert into her coaching set-up proved a master stroke with the American teenager going on to win the Washington Open and her first WTA 1000 title in Cincinnati - where she defeated Swiatek for the first time in eight meetings - in quick succession.
Then came the US Open and, despite the pressure of being the home favourite, the 19-year-old came from behind to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in the final. That made her the youngest American women's singles champion since Serena Williams in 1999.
An overdue Olympic debut at Paris 2024 is very much on the cards with Gauff keen to play singles and doubles alongside regular partner Jessica Pegula. She was selected by the U.S. Committee in June 2021 for the delayed Tokyo Games but had to pull out after testing positive for COVID-19.
Beyond her tennis prowess, Gauff is a passionate advocate for social justice causes. She has used her platform to address significant issues, particularly focusing on racial equality, climate change, and racial injustice. Her activism, both on and off the court, underscores her commitment to making a positive impact on the world.
