Coco Gauff shared how her parents, Candi and Corey Gauff, defied their family’s expectations in order to support her tennis career.
Gauff recently clinched the 2025 French Open title after triumphing over the likes of Olivia Gadecki, Marie Bouzkova, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Madison Keys, before defeating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4, in the championship match.
Coco Gauff Details Parents’ Support and Sacrifice Which Helped Her Advance in Her Tennis Career
After lifting the Suzanne-Lenglen Cup, Gauff spoke with TODAY, expressing her gratitude to her parents for their support. She revealed that they made significant sacrifices, including relocating from their “dream home” in Atlanta to Florida, all to enable her to pursue her passion for tennis.
“I would like to say thank you. Thank them for everything you know. We realized that Florida was the place to be for tennis, so we moved from Atlanta to Florida. They had our dream house or their dream house, and for them to move. We would stay with my grandmother in her house for about six or seven months before we were able to get our own place,” Gauff said.
Gauff recounted how her extended family initially criticized her parents for their decision. However, her mother stood firm against the backlash, asserting that she would do everything in her power to help Gauff achieve her dreams and that the family should rally behind that vision.
“Just all the sacrifice and the fact that my dad and my mom had that belief for me at a young age, and kind of set my family straight because some of my family is like, ‘What are you doing?’ She’s doing online school, and y’all are moving.’ My mom had a conversation with them. She’s like, ‘This is what we are gonna do: we are gonna support her, and y’all be either here to support her.’ And since then, they all have supported me,” she continued.
Expressing her deep appreciation, Gauff stated how fortunate she feels to have such a supportive family. She said that she knows that during challenging times in her career or when she is not performing at her best, she can always return to her loving and supportive family.
“So, I’m just grateful for that support system. I think it really helps when those moments are tight, and you realize that regardless of the result, I have a group of people to come home to,” Gauff added.
Coco Gauff to Next Compete at 2025 Berlin Tennis Open
Following the conclusion of her campaign at the 2025 French Open, Gauff is set to kick off her grass-court season at the 2025 Berlin Tennis Open. The WTA 500 tournament is set to take place from June 16 to June 22, 2025, on the outdoor grass courts of the Rot-Weiss Tennis Club in Berlin, Germany.
Along with Gauff, players like Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Zheng Qinwen, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, and Madison Keys, among others, will compete at the Berlin Tennis Open.
In 2024, Gauff entered the tournament in Berlin as the top seed, and she began her campaign in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. She triumphed over Alexandrova in the opening match, winning with a scoreline of 7-6(6), 6-2. In the quarterfinals, she faced eighth seed Ons Jabeur and won the first set 7-6(9) before Jabeur retired in the second set.
The World No. 2’s run at the tournament came to an end in the semifinals, where she lost to compatriot and eventual champion Jessica Pegula, 5-7, 6(2)-7.