Tennis champion Coco Gauff wouldn’t be where she is without the love and support of her parents. The Grand Slam winner’s mom and dad are permanent fixtures on the court sidelines, but did you know they’re sports stars themselves?
Born on March 13, 2004, in Atlanta, Georgia, Gauff gained widespread recognition in 2019 when she was just 15 years old. She made headlines by defeating Venus Williams in the first round of Wimbledon, eventually reaching the fourth round of the tournament. This breakthrough performance catapulted her into the global spotlight.
“My dad told me I could do this when I was eight, and obviously, you never believe it,” Coco told reporters following the upset. “Thank you, first, to my parents. Today was the first time I’ve ever seen my dad cry,” she said during her on-court interview. “Thank you guys, you believed in me from the beginning. My dad took me to this tournament. [I watched] Venus and Serena compete, so it’s really incredible to be on this stage.”
Coco Gauff’s parents are Candi and Corey Gauff—they tied the knot on January 13, 2001. Incredibly, they both quit their jobs to move back to their hometown of Delray Beach, Florida, and help their daughter pursue tennis full-time.
Candi Guaff was a high-achieving track athlete in her high school days. She set a state record in the heptathlon before attending Florida State on a full scholarship. She was also a gifted gymnast as a child. Despite that, she doesn’t actively “coach” her daughter but rather provides a respite from the pressure.
“I try to back away on the court because too many voices can be a crowd,” she told the New York Times in 2019. “I let my husband be the coach, and I’m the supportive mom, the one if she hurts or is crying that she can communicate with.”
After Coco’s historic win against Venus Williams, Candi told NBC News, “We gave her a hug and she said ‘Mom, really, did you think I could win? Come on, tell me!’” she said. “And I was like ‘Yeah, I really thought you could win!’”
Coco’s father, Corey, played basketball at Georgia State University. He later worked in the healthcare industry. Corey has been a significant figure in his daughter’s tennis journey, serving as her primary coach for much of her early career.
“When it comes to sports—to be really good in sports—really anything, it takes a level of discipline, so I’d consider myself a disciplinarian,” he told Black Tennis Magazine before Coco went pro. “It’s not a discipline of if you don’t do something right I’m going to spank you; it’s a discipline of getting to the court on time, proper warm-ups, proper focus, etc.”
On growing up wanting to be a tennis star, Coco said she was committed to the dream from an early age. “I’ve said this before; I want to be the greatest. My dad told me I could do this when I was 8, and obviously, you never believe it. I’m still not 100% confident, but you have to say things and believe in them and see what happens,” she said.
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