Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff Today: Tennis Star Named U.S. Olympic Flag Bearer

Tennis prodigy Coco Gauff, who has long admired NBA superstar LeBron James, is set to share a significant moment with him at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The 20-year-old athlete was “completely shocked” upon learning she would serve as the female flag bearer for Team USA, standing alongside James during the opening ceremony.

Gauff recounted her admiration for James, stating, “He DMed me once on Instagram with words of encouragement and congratulations, but I’ve never actually met him. This is a cool circumstance to finally connect with him.” The opening ceremony will take place along the Seine River on July 26 at 1 p.m. ET, broadcasted live on NBC and Peacock. Currently in Paris, Gauff is preparing for her tennis competitions and will find out her first opponent during the official draws on July 25 at 11 a.m.

Who Is Coco Gauff?

Coco Gauff emerged as a formidable force in tennis after winning the 2023 U.S. Open at just 19 years old. Widely regarded as the most promising young American player since Serena Williams, Gauff garnered widespread attention in 2019 when she received a wildcard entry to Wimbledon, where she notably defeated five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round. That same year, she advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open and secured her first singles title. With her consistent improvement, Gauff is poised to represent the United States at the upcoming Summer Olympics.

Early Life and Family Background

Cori Dionne Gauff, known professionally as Coco Gauff, was born on March 13, 2004, in Delray Beach, Florida. Named after her father, Corey, she was given the nickname “Coco” to distinguish herself from him. Gauff has two younger brothers, Cameron and Cody.

Athleticism is a hallmark of the Gauff family; her father played Division I basketball at Georgia State University, while her mother, Candi, was a gymnast and participated in Division I track and field at Florida State University. Recognizing their daughter’s potential, Coco’s parents encouraged her to pursue sports from an early age, leading her to take up tennis at the age of six.

Initially raised in Georgia, Gauff’s family made the decision to return to Delray Beach to better support her tennis career. Candi began homeschooling Coco, and Corey took on the role of her coach.

Junior Tennis Achievements

By the age of ten, Gauff had traveled to France to train under Patrick Mouratoglou, who is renowned for coaching Serena Williams. Although she continued her training with Mouratoglou, her father remained her primary coach.

Corey Gauff emphasized the importance of being a well-rounded athlete, stating, “We wanted her to develop as a total athlete,” which led Coco to participate in gymnastics, soccer, basketball, and track.

Coco Gauff won the United States Tennis Association Clay Court National 12-and-under title in 2014. In 2017, she finished as the runner-up in the U.S. Open Girls Junior Championships, and the following year, she became the junior champion at the French Open. Due to WTA regulations established in 1994, young athletes must be 18 years old to turn professional, with restrictions on the number of professional events they can enter each year. This structure, designed to protect young players, has prompted some debate over whether it is overly restrictive, as it has impacted Gauff’s ascent in the rankings during her initial years in competition.

Professional Tennis Career: 2023 U.S. Open Champion

Coco Gauff’s journey in professional tennis began with a resolute goal in January 2019: to rank among the top 100 players in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). At that time, she was ranked No. 685. Making her WTA debut at the Miami Open in March, shortly after her 15th birthday, Gauff secured her first victory against fellow American Caty McNally.

In June 2019, Gauff received a wild card to participate in Wimbledon, racing to London for the opportunity. In her first-round match, she faced Venus Williams, a five-time Wimbledon champion and one of Gauff’s idols. Gauff triumphed in a match that showcased her potential, crediting a conversation with former pro Mary Joe Fernández for her confidence. “I remember before I talked to her, I was just grateful for the opportunity… she completely changed my mindset,” Gauff reflected in an interview with Sports Illustrated Kids. “She was like, ‘No, you have to go into this match thinking that you can win and believing that you can win.’”

Gauff’s remarkable performance led her to the fourth round of Wimbledon, making her the youngest player to reach that stage since 1991. This surge of success generated significant media attention, coining the term “Cocomania.” Shortly thereafter, she advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open, again the youngest player to achieve this milestone since 1991. After her defeat, Gauff shared a heartfelt moment with Naomi Osaka, who invited her to join in a post-match interview.

In October 2019, Gauff captured her first WTA title at the Linz Open in Austria, qualifying as a “lucky loser” after another player withdrew due to injury. This victory propelled her to No. 71 in the world, fulfilling her self-imposed ranking goal. She concluded the year ranked No. 68. In 2020, Gauff advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open, defeating Osaka along the way. She further cemented her reputation by reaching the quarterfinals of the French Open in 2021, becoming the youngest player to do so since 2006. That same year, she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and secured another WTA singles title in Parma, Italy.

Gauff has also achieved success in doubles, often partnering with McNally. However, an injury to McNally prevented them from teaming up at the 2021 French Open, leading Gauff to partner with Venus Williams, although they were eliminated in the first round.

In an essay published in 2020, Gauff candidly shared her struggles with pressure and depression prior to her breakthrough at Wimbledon. “I realized I needed to start playing for myself and not other people,” she reflected, stating that overcoming these challenges allowed her to emerge stronger and more self-aware.

2023 U.S. Open Victory

By September 2022, Gauff had established herself within the top 10 but had yet to clinch a Grand Slam title, with her best result being a runner-up finish at the 2022 French Open. However, she finally achieved her long-anticipated breakthrough by winning her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 U.S. Open.

Entering the tournament with momentum after defeating the top-ranked Iga Swiatek to become the youngest woman to win the singles title at the Western & Southern Open, Gauff advanced through six matches in New York, defeating three top-20 players and navigating a semifinal interrupted by a climate protest. She ultimately triumphed in the final, overcoming Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in three sets on September 9. With this victory, Gauff became the youngest American woman to win the U.S. Open since Serena Williams in 1999.

Gauff secured her second major title in June 2024 by winning the doubles competition at the French Open alongside partner Katerina Siniaková.

2020 and 2024 Olympics

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, which ultimately took place in 2021. Following her success at the French Open, Gauff was selected for the U.S. Olympic team, poised to be the youngest tennis Olympian since 2000. Unfortunately, a positive COVID test forced her withdrawal from the Games. On July 18, 2021, she expressed her disappointment on Twitter, stating, “It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics.”

Despite this setback, Gauff is set to showcase her talent at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. As the No. 5-ranked player in the world and the top American, she has been chosen to represent the United States and is expected to compete in both singles and doubles events with partner Jessica Pegula. Notably, she has been named the female flag bearer for the opening ceremony, alongside NBA star LeBron James.

Ranking and Stats

Gauff’s rapid ascent in the professional ranks is evident, as she began her career ranked as low as No. 875 in early 2018. As of July 22, 2024, she holds the WTA No. 2 ranking in women’s singles—the highest of her career—trailing only Iga Światek. In women’s doubles, Gauff is ranked No. 13 and previously held the No. 1 position in August 2022 and again in September 2023 alongside Jessica Pegula.

In addition to her U.S. Open singles victory, Gauff has reached one other major final at the 2022 French Open and achieved semifinal appearances at both the 2024 Australian Open and French Open. Her career statistics as of July 24, 2024, include:

• Career singles matches won: 210
• Career singles losses: 93
• Singles titles: 7
• Doubles titles: 9
• Major singles titles: 1 (2023 U.S. Open)
• Major doubles titles: 1 (2024 French Open)
• Career prize money: $15,122,767

Net Worth

As of February 2024, Gauff’s net worth is estimated at approximately $3.5 million, with some estimates even higher. Her earnings have steadily increased throughout her career, having won $538,103 in prize money in 2019 and $509,862 in 2020. Gauff’s winnings surpassed $1 million in 2021 and reached $3 million following her U.S. Open victory in 2023. According to the WTA, she has accrued over $15.1 million in career prize money as of July 2024.

In addition to her on-court success, Gauff has secured endorsement deals with several prominent companies, including New Balance, Barilla, Bose, UPS, and Baker Tilly. These partnerships have significantly contributed to her financial success, making her the highest-paid female athlete of 2023, according to Sportico, with estimated earnings of $22.7 million. Gauff is represented by Team8, an agency co-founded by tennis legend Roger Federer.

Personal Life

While Gauff has largely kept her personal life private, she disclosed in an April 2024 interview with Time that she has been in a relationship for over a year. Although she has chosen not to reveal her boyfriend’s identity, she mentioned he is from Atlanta, not a tennis player, and is pursuing a career in music and acting. “To just have someone to talk to who is not involved in tennis at all gives me a fresh perspective,” she shared.

Activism

With a substantial social media following, including over 1.7 million on Instagram and more than 630,000 on TikTok as of June 2024, Gauff has used her platform to advocate for important issues, including climate change and racial injustice. In 2019, she emphasized the importance of her generation speaking out on social issues. “I do follow the [climate] movement a lot, and I’m learning about ways we can better change,” she noted.

Gauff has actively participated in social movements, speaking at a Black Lives Matter protest in Florida in 2020, drawing parallels between her advocacy and the struggles faced by her grandmother decades earlier. In 2023, during her U.S. Open semifinal match, a climate protest momentarily halted play. Gauff responded thoughtfully, expressing her belief in the importance of peaceful activism: “I always speak about preaching what you feel and what you believe in. It was done in a peaceful way, so I can’t get too mad at it.”