When it comes to hitting winners on the court, Coco Gauff knows how to deliver. But when the spotlight turns to her love life, the 21-year-old likes to keep it low-key. Still, fans got a rare glimpse into her personal world back in April last year when she admitted she was in her “first real relationship.” The name wasn’t dropped officially, but the clues were there for tennis Twitter to do what it does best. And guess what? Gauff seemed to confirm the internet sleuths were spot on. “People on Twitter found him,” she casually said. The man in question? Jalen Sera, an Atlanta-based musician. Even though she hasn’t confirmed his identity outright, that hasn’t stopped her from gushing over him.
In public, the American tennis starlet doesn’t shy away from acknowledging their connection. She’s called him a “really nice guy” and revealed how his words have helped her during high-pressure moments. She recalled how the night before her first Grand Slam final—at the 2022 French Open—she couldn’t stop imagining victory. That overthinking might’ve cost her the match. So, to avoid a repeat the next year, she did something simple but sweet. “I told him, ‘Let’s talk until it’s time to go to sleep,’ so we spoke until 1:00 a.m. and then I went to sleep,” she said. That late-night call wasn’t just a distraction. It grounded her. Gauff said it helped her “give it my all” when it mattered the most.
Recently, her boyfriend even made it to her travel wishlist. During the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, the former US Open champion was asked about her road trip plans. The destination? Oregon. When asked about her travel companion, her answer was short and sweet: “My boyfriend because we have been wanting to do that.” As for snacks, she’s got it all planned out—“For sure some skinny popcorn, naked smoothies, sour patch kids, and I need like a chocolate, Twix bars.” And she’s cruising with Childish Gambino or Kaytranada on the playlist. Sounds like the perfect vibe.
This isn’t the first time she’s shared snippets of their relationship. Back in February, the 21-year-old shared a cute Valentine’s Day post with a bouquet and a heartfelt message. “Happy Valentine’s Day, star! I love you. What we have will mean everything to me, forever and always,” read the note. And just last month, Sera was seen sending birthday wishes to the former US Open champion.
Gauff is all set with a travel partner but what about the car? She’s doing pretty well in the garage, too. Her car collection includes a Mercedes-Benz GLC and a Jaguar F-Pace SVR. That first ride was a sweet 18th birthday gift from her dad. Most recently, the 21-year-old posted a clip of herself driving a Porsche, flexing a bit of her South Florida life. Her caption said it all: “love South Florida.” But if she wins big in Stuttgart, she might need to clear more garage space as the prize includes a brand new Porsche car.
But what’s her road to the new car?
Coco Gauff kicks off her journey at the Stuttgart Open
Coco Gauff is back for her fourth appearance in Stuttgart, and this time, she’s entering as the tournament’s fourth seed. That means a direct pass into the second round, where she faces Germany’s Ella Seidel on April 17.
From there, her path gets trickier. If she beats Seidel, she’ll take on either Jule Niemeier or fifth seed Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals. The semifinals could feature a fiery clash with Aryna Sabalenka, while the final might see her face off against Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, or the young Mirra Andreeva. It’s a loaded draw, but clay is where the American shines brightest.
However, she’s coming off a slump. Gauff has been struggling with double faults this season. At the Miami Open, she committed 12 in a single match. Go back to Indian Wells, and the number jumps to 21 in her opening match. So far in 2025, she holds an unfortunate record—most double faults on the WTA Tour with 125 in just 18 matches.
Yet, despite this, her clay stats offer hope. She boasts a 72% win rate on clay, her best surface by far. With her boyfriend by her side and a clay court beneath her feet, Stuttgart might just be the stage she needs to find her rhythm again. Will this be the week Coco Gauff steers her season back on track? What do you think?
The post “Been Wanting To Do That,” Not Tennis Besties or Family, Coco Gauff Picks Boyfriend Jalen Sera As Her Ultimate Roadtrip Buddy appeared first on EssentiallySports.
