Nina Caldwell
Coco Gauff is an American professional tennis player. Born in Delray Beach, Florida, in 2004, Gauff rose to prominence in the tennis world when she beat Venus Williams at Wimbledon at just 15 years old. Gauff is a passionate advocate for social justice causes and has used her platform to address racial equality, climate change, and racial injustice. She has won several major tournaments, including the French Open, the WTA Finals singles title, and the China Open.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cori Dionne Gauff |
| Nickname | Coco |
| Date of Birth | 13 March 2004 |
| Birthplace | Delray Beach, Florida, USA |
| Profession | Professional Tennis Player |
| Parents | Corey Gauff and Candi Odom Gauff |
| Tennis Idols | Serena and Venus Williams |
| Favourite Surface | Hard |
| Playing Style | Aggressive with a big serve |
| Speciality | Quickness and athleticism |
| Self-Description | Fighter |
| Hobbies | Hanging out with her brother and family, watching superhero movies, making TikTok videos |
| Favourite City | Paris |
| Favourite Celebrity | Beyonce |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Coco Gauff is a professional tennis player
Gauff turned pro in her teens and has since amassed an impressive list of wins and accolades. In 2019, she received a wildcard entry to Wimbledon, and in 2021, she wore a bold, mismatched New Balance outfit at the French Open. In 2023, she won her home Grand Slam event, the US Open, becoming only the third American teenager to do so. She also won the Cincinnati Open and her first major title that year. In 2024, Gauff made her Olympic debut at Paris 2024, becoming the youngest athlete to serve as the US flag-bearer. She went on to win her first Grand Slam doubles title at Roland Garros, partnering with Katerina Siniaková, and her second WTA 1000 title at the China Open.
In 2025, Gauff won her second major championship, claiming the French Open singles title. She also set a record for the most WTA 1000 wins before turning 21 and won the WTA Finals singles title. Gauff's playing style is described as aggressive, and her favourite surface is hard. She currently uses a Head Boom MP 2022 racket and wears New Balance clothing and shoes. Outside of tennis, Gauff is a passionate advocate for social justice causes, using her platform to address issues such as racial equality, climate change, and racial injustice. She is also a fan of anime, including My Hero Academia, and enjoys making TikTok videos.
Tiger Woods' Masters: What Was the Final Outcome?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
She was born in Delray Beach, Florida, USA
Coco Gauff, born Cori Dionne Gauff, was born on March 13, 2004, in Delray Beach, Florida, USA. She comes 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 on a full athletic scholarship, competing in hurdles and heptathlon.
Gauff's talent for tennis became apparent at a young age. By the time she was seven, she was training with a tennis pro two hours a day, several days a week. At the age of 10, she went to France to train at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in France, run by Patrick Mouratoglou, the longtime coach of tennis superstar Serena Williams. Gauff won the USTA Clay Court National 12-and-under title at the age of 10 years and three months, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament's history.
Gauff's rapid rise in the tennis world has been meteoric. She gained widespread recognition in 2019 when she received a wildcard entry to Wimbledon. In 2023, at age 19, she became only the third American teenager to win the US Open women's title. That same year, she won her first major title, defeating her childhood idol, Venus Williams, at Wimbledon when she was just 15 years old. Gauff's other tennis idols are Serena Williams and Roger Federer, with whom she has sponsorship agreements.
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. She is also a Christian and has been known to pray before every match for her and her opponent's safety.
The Origins of Golf: A Historical Perspective
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Gauff is a passionate advocate for social justice causes
Coco Gauff, born Cori Dionne Gauff, is a professional tennis player from Delray Beach, Florida. She rose to prominence in the tennis world at the age of 15 when she beat her childhood idol, Venus Williams, at Wimbledon. Since then, Gauff has gone on to win numerous titles, including the French Open in 2025 and the U.S. Open women's title in 2023, becoming only the third American teenager to do so.
Beyond her success in tennis, Gauff is also known for her passionate advocacy for social justice causes. She has used her platform to address a range of significant issues, particularly focusing on racial equality, climate change, and racial injustice. Gauff has spoken out against anti-LGBTQ laws in her home state of Florida and demanded racial justice at a Black Lives Matter rally in her hometown. She has also used social media to support the Black Lives Matter movement and urged others to spread awareness.
Gauff's inspiration to speak out for justice comes from her grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, who was the first Black student to attend Seacrest High in Florida. Gauff has said that her grandmother's experiences remind her that she is a person first and an athlete second, empowering her to speak her mind on and off the court.
In an interview, Gauff also spoke about the pressure she faces as a highly scrutinized athlete and a female athlete of colour. She discussed how she manages this pressure and her advocacy for social and racial justice. Gauff started journaling at a young age and has found it to be a valuable tool for managing her thoughts and feelings.
Through her actions and words, Gauff has shown that she is committed to using her platform and voice to advocate for social justice causes and to be a role model for young athletes and people around the world.
Fixing Your Golf Slice: Tips for Beginners
You may want to see also
Explore related products
She won the US Open women's title in 2023
Coco Gauff, born Cori Dionne Gauff, rose to prominence in the tennis world at the age of 15 when she beat Venus Williams, one of her childhood idols, at Wimbledon. In 2023, at the age of 19, Gauff became only the third American teenager to win the US Open women's title. She also won the Cincinnati Open in August 2023 and the DC Open in Washington, D.C., in the same month.
Gauff's talent for tennis became apparent early on. At the age of 10, she went to France to train at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy under Patrick Mouratoglou, the long-time coach of tennis superstar Serena Williams. Gauff won the USTA Clay Court National 12-and-under title at the age of 10 years and three months, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament's history.
Gauff's tennis idols are Serena and Venus Williams. She first met Serena when she won the Little Mo national tournament at the age of eight, and later met her again to film a commercial for Delta Air Lines. Gauff has said, "Serena Williams has always been my idol... and Venus. They are the reason why I wanted to pick up a tennis racquet."
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. She is also a Christian and has said that she prays before every match that she and her opponent will be safe. After winning her first major title in September 2023, she said, "I don't pray for results, I just ask that I get the strength to give it my all and whatever happens happens. I'm so blessed in this life."
Am Fam Leaderboard: Tracking the Best of the Best
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Gauff is a fan of anime and popular YouTubers
Coco Gauff, born Cori Dionne Gauff, is a professional tennis player from Delray Beach, Florida. She is a passionate advocate for social justice causes and has used her platform to address significant issues, particularly racial equality, climate change, and racial injustice. Gauff is also a Christian and has been known to pray with her father before every match since she was eight years old.
Gauff began her tennis journey at a very young age. By the time she was seven, she was already training with a tennis pro several days a week. At the age of ten, she travelled to France to train at the renowned Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, where she was sponsored by the academy's founder, Patrick Mouratoglou, longtime coach of Serena Williams. Gauff's tennis idols are Serena and Venus Williams, and she first met Serena after winning the Little Mo national tournament at the age of eight.
Gauff's talent and determination were evident from a young age, and she rose to prominence in the tennis world at just 15 years old when she beat her idol, Venus Williams, at the Wimbledon Championships. She gained further recognition in 2019 with a wildcard entry to Wimbledon and has since gone on to win numerous titles, including the US Open in 2023, the French Open in 2025, and the WTA Finals singles title in 2024.
Valhalla Golf Club: A Prestigious Venue in Kentucky
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Coco Gauff, born Cori Dionne Gauff, is a professional tennis player from Delray Beach, Florida. She was born on March 13, 2004, to parents Corey Gauff, a former basketball player, and Candi Odom Gauff, a former track athlete. Gauff began playing tennis at a young age and soon showed exceptional talent.
Coco Gauff has had numerous notable achievements in her tennis career. She became the youngest US Open women's champion at 19, only the third American teenager to do so. She has also won the French Open, the WTA Finals singles title, and multiple WTA 1000 titles. Gauff is also known for her social justice advocacy, using her platform to address issues like racial equality and climate change.
Coco Gauff's tennis idols are Serena and Venus Williams. She first met Serena Williams when she was eight years old, after winning the Little Mo national tournament. Gauff later gained widespread recognition when she beat her idol, Venus Williams, at Wimbledon when she was just 15 years old.
Coco Gauff describes her playing style as aggressive, with a big serve. She relies on her quickness and athleticism to keep herself in the game and considers herself a fighter on the court.
