Coco Gauff

Who Is Coco Gauff?

Coco Gauff, whose full name is Cori Dionne Gauff, is a professional tennis player from Delray Beach, Florida. She burst onto the tennis scene in 2019 when she defeated the legendary Venus Williams at the Wimbledon Championships when she was just 15 years old.

Gauff has won two major championships — the US Open in 2023 and the French Open in 2025. Furthermore, for the second consecutive year, Forbes named the tennis star the world’s highest-paid female athlete, earning $33 million in 2025.

At just 21 years old, Coco Gauff is already rewriting the record books. Most importantly, she is just getting started.

Early Life: A Dream, a Racket, and a Family of Champions

Born to Compete

When Cori Dionne Gauff was barely school age, she held a tennis racket and told her parents that she wanted to be the best player in the world.

Coco Gauff got her nickname from her aunt to avoid confusion with her father, Corey, as both shared the same name. Her father was called ‘Co’ growing up, leading to her being called ‘Coco.’

That small nickname became one of the most recognized names in world sport.

A Family Built on Athletic Excellence

Her parents, Corey and Candi Gauff, who have been married for over 20 years, are often by her side at tennis tournaments, as are her two younger brothers, Codey and Cameron.

Corey was a basketball player at Georgia State University. Candi was a top scorer on the track and field team at Florida State University. Therefore, athletic excellence was not just encouraged in the Gauff household — it was the family language.

Her Brothers: Codey and Cameron

Born on September 21, 2007, Codey is the middle child of the Gauff family. He became a highly competitive athlete and played high school baseball with Elite Squad Academy. In October 2024, Codey announced his commitment to play baseball at Mizzou University.

Born on June 5, 2013, Cameron is the youngest of the Gauff siblings. He has already shown a creative streak, collaborating with New Balance on a sneaker design.

After her 2025 French Open victory, Coco told Good Morning America that her brothers are her “why.” “The support that I have is amazing, and especially my parents, for them to sacrifice so much and come on the road, and my brothers sacrificing time with their parents,” she said. “Their being so understanding means the world.”

Junior Career: A Prodigy Announces Herself

The 2018 French Open Girls’ Title

Coco Gauff did not ease her way into the spotlight. She arrived with force.

Gauff won the 2018 French Open Girls’ title at just 14 years old, becoming the youngest junior champion in over two decades. This was not just a junior record. It was a signal to the entire tennis world that something extraordinary was coming.

Signing With New Balance at 14

New Balance first signed her when she was 14 years old and redid the contract in 2022 to make it one of the richest in the women’s game. Even before she turned professional, the brand world had already recognized her star power.

Professional Career: The Rise of a Champion

2019 Wimbledon — The Moment the World Stood Up

Gauff’s pro career ignited in 2019 when, as the youngest qualifier in Wimbledon history, she defeated Venus Williams and reached the fourth round.

That win sent shockwaves through tennis. Coco Gauff — at just 15 — had beaten a living legend. Moreover, she did it with composure, power, and pure belief. The tennis world immediately recognized a generational talent.

Her 2019 Linz Open title made her the youngest WTA champion since 2004.

2022 French Open Final — A Taste of Grand Slam Glory

The 2022 season saw Gauff reach her first Grand Slam singles final at Roland Garros, finishing as runner-up to Iga Świątek.

It was a painful loss. However, it was also a crucial lesson. She absorbed the experience. She channeled it. She came back stronger.

2023 US Open — America’s Champion

In 2023, Gauff captured her first Grand Slam singles title at the US Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka to become the youngest American woman to win the tournament since Serena Williams in 1999.

After her win, the first people she celebrated with and thanked were her parents. “Thank you guys. You believed in me from the beginning,” she said. “My dad took me to this tournament, sitting right there, watching Venus and Serena compete, so it’s really incredible to win on this stage.”

Her impressive year also included victories at prestigious WTA tournaments like the Cincinnati Open and Washington Open.

2024 — The Year She Dominated the World

2024 was nothing short of spectacular for Coco Gauff.

In late 2024, she captured the historic WTA Finals title in Riyadh, securing a record-breaking $4.8 million prize — the largest payout in women’s professional sports history at the time. Additionally, she was the first American to win the WTA Finals since Serena Williams in 2014.

She also claimed the WTA Finals title in 2024, becoming the youngest champion there since 2004, and defended her Auckland title, won Beijing, and teamed up with Kateřina Siniaková to win the 2024 French Open doubles title.

She was also the female flag bearer for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside NBA legend LeBron James.

2025 French Open — The Second Grand Slam

She rebounded on the clay of the French Open in June 2025, defeating the number one-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to claim her second Grand Slam title.

After the victory, Coco poured her heart out on Instagram. “There was a time when I thought I wasn’t capable of handling pressure. I held on to the idea that this trophy was beyond me,” she wrote.

In October 2025, she also won the Wuhan Open, adding another WTA title to her growing collection.

2026 Season: Continuing the Chase

The 2026 season started with Gauff reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open before suffering a loss to Ukraine’s Elena Rybakina. However, her hunger for more Grand Slam titles remains stronger than ever. She continues to train, compete, and push the boundaries of what women’s tennis can achieve.

Career Statistics and Records

Grand Slam Record

Tournament	Best Result	Notable Facts
Australian Open	Semifinal (2024)	Quarterfinals in 2025 and 2026
French Open	Winner (2025)	Runner-up 2022; 2021 QF, youngest since 2006
Wimbledon	Fourth Round	2019, 2021, 2024; youngest qualifier in Open Era
US Open	Winner (2023)	Youngest US winner since Serena Williams (1999)

Full Title Haul

By age 21, she has won 11 WTA singles titles, including two Grand Slams, and 10 doubles titles.

Year	Tournament	Type
2018	French Open Girls’ Title	Junior
2018	US Open	Doubles
2019	Linz Open	Singles
2021	Emilia-Romagna Open	Singles
2023	Washington Open	Singles
2023	Cincinnati Masters	Singles
2023	WTA Auckland Open	Singles
2023	US Open	Grand Slam Singles
2024	WTA Auckland Open	Singles
2024	China Open (Beijing)	Singles
2024	French Open	Doubles (with Siniaková)
2024	WTA Finals (Riyadh)	Singles
2025	French Open	Grand Slam Singles
2025	Wuhan Open	Singles

Business Empire: The Most Powerful Brand in Women’s Sports

Forbes’ Highest-Paid Female Athlete — Three Years Running

For the third year in a row, Forbes named Coco Gauff the world’s highest-paid female athlete, earning $33 million in 2025.

Of the $33 million, $8 million came from her work on the court. The remaining $25 million came from her off-court endorsements. This makes her off-court income the highest of any female athlete in the world.

Endorsement Portfolio

Her most lucrative endorsement deal is with New Balance. The top-ranked American player has a deep endorsement roster of more than a dozen partners that also includes Baker Tilly, Bose, Head, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, and Chase Bank.

Additionally, she has partnerships with Meta and Ray-Ban to promote their smart glasses and collaborative deals with American Eagle, Miu Miu, and the hair care brand Carol’s Daughter.

Coco CG1 and CG2 Signature Shoes

With the Coco CG1 and CG2, she is one of the few active tennis players to have their own signature footwear line. Her brother Cameron even collaborated on a New Balance sneaker design, turning the Gauff brand into a true family affair.

Coco Gauff Enterprises (2025)

In April 2025, she launched Coco Gauff Enterprises in conjunction with talent firm WME to manage her career after seven years aligned with Roger Federer’s agency, Team8. WME does not have any ownership in the business.

This was a bold, decisive move. It signals that Coco Gauff is not simply a tennis player. She is building a lasting legacy as an entrepreneur and a cultural icon.

Activism: Speaking Up When It Matters Most

Coco Gauff has never shied away from using her platform. She speaks with clarity. She speaks with courage.

At the age of 16, she delivered a powerful speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in Florida. She called for action. She called for accountability. She called for change. Her words resonated far beyond the tennis courts.

She uses her massive platform to advocate for social justice, diversity, and youth sports empowerment. Furthermore, she partnered with the mental health platform Modern Health — a meaningful alignment given her openness about managing pressure and self-doubt throughout her career.

Personal Life: Grounded, Faithful, and Family-First

Her parents, Corey and Candi, are often by her side at tennis tournaments. Faith also plays a central role in her life. After her 2025 French Open victory, her first Instagram post read simply: “Thank God.”

She is active on social media under the handle @cocogauff. However, she carefully balances public visibility with personal privacy. She is known for her warmth, humor, and authentic personality both on and off the court.