Coco Gauff’s new season tells a tale of two halves! The early stretch was marred by back-to-back 1st-round exits and a disappointing Sunshine Double, where she bowed out in the R16. But as the tour shifted to the European clay, Coco rediscovered her rhythm, reaching back-to-back finals, though heartbreakingly falling short each time. Her recent loss at the Italian Open was especially emotional, as her mother watched from the stands while Coco crumbled on center court against a homegrown Italian WTA ace. And now, with Roland Garros approaching, Coco sets her sights on redemption, fueled by determination and the unwavering support of her guiding light: her mom!
Just days after her emotional loss to Jasmine Paolini on the red clay, Coco is already shifting her focus and channeling her determination toward the French Open. The runner-up finish on Italian soil followed another tough defeat in Madrid, where Aryna Sabalenka clinched her 3rd title in the Spanish capital. These back-to-back losses at WTA 1000 events could have shaken anyone’s confidence, but the current second-ranked player on the WTA Tour is using them as fuel.
Reflecting on her form and mindset in a post-match interview with the WTA, she shared, “Two results I’m obviously pretty disappointed in, but overall I have a lot of confidence going into Roland Garros and hopefully I can get to the final there & win it. I think I saw Medvedev say it’s better to lose in finals than first round.” And as she boldly prepares to enter the sport’s most grueling clay-court battleground, the former US Open champ isn’t doing it alone. Her mother, Candi Gauff, has stepped into a special role, not just as her biggest supporter this time, but also as a strict, watchful presence courtside!
Sometime ago, the “Tennis Channel” shared a vibrant training video of Coco Gauff on IG, capturing her in full swing under the sunny French skies. In the video, Coco diligently practiced on the clay courts, displaying focus, intensity, and unwavering resolve. But stealing a bit of the spotlight was someone very familiar sitting courtside with an ever-serious gaze: her mother, Candi Gauff. The channel playfully captioned the moment, “Best seat in the house ,” as Candi looked on like a watchful trainer for her daughter, every bit engaged in the preparation.
Candi Gauff has always been a pillar of strength throughout Coco’s journey. From emotional post-match embraces to joyful birthday celebrations, where she once declared, “I knew you were destined for greatness!”, Candi’s role in Coco’s life extends far beyond the stands. She’s her emotional anchor, her travel companion as well, and her trusted confidante through the highs and lows of the WTA tour.
Even during a press conference at the 2024 WTA Finals, Coco opened up about how vital her mother’s presence is for her. “Yeah, I mean, both my parents are constant support all the time. My mom, it’s just a motherly thing. There’s nothing like a mother-daughter relationship. Especially in swings like Asia, where it may be more isolated than usual, we just play Uno a lot,” she said.
Now, with the French Open fast approaching, Candi remains right by Coco’s side, helping her reset and rise once again on the sport’s most demanding surface!
Candi Gauff candidly discusses handling Coco’s early life success: “You have to be a good person first”
The 21-year-old’s journey to stardom has been nothing short of extraordinary! Coco 1st captured the world’s attention at just 15 years old during the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. As the youngest qualifier in the Open Era, the 10-time singles winner pulled off a stunning upset by defeating Venus Williams in the 1st round, an unforgettable moment that catapulted her into the global spotlight. But even before Wimbledon, she had already shown promise on the junior circuit, reaching the US Open junior final in 2017 and claiming the Roland Garros junior title in 2018.
Her professional debut came at the Miami Open in March 2019, though, and she didn’t take long to make headlines. Later that year, Coco secured her first WTA title at the Linz Open, becoming the youngest player to do so since 2004. Fast forward to today, and Coco, now 21, has reached career-high rankings of 2nd seed in singles and No. 1 in doubles (August 2022). Her biggest victory till date remains her 2023 US Open singles title, making her the youngest American to win it since the iconic Serena Williams in 1999.
Despite a slower start to her 2025 season, Coco recently found her form again, reaching the Madrid Open final, where she fell to Aryna Sabalenka. During that tournament, her mother, Candi Gauff, gave a heartfelt interview to “Le Tweener”, reflecting on Coco’s early fame. When asked about managing her daughter’s image from such a young age, she addressed, “We try to compartmentalize her a little bit, meaning that you have a tennis life, and then you also have a life as being a child that’s maturing into a young adult. So, just making sure that you understand morals, values, and have good character and be a good person first, and then your tennis. A lot of times people focus more on your tennis and think that’s your avenue out, but no, you have to be a good person first.”
Now, as the clay court season heads into its most prestigious stage at Parisian clay, all eyes will once again be on Coco. After back-to-back finals on clay, can the American top seed take that final step and lift her second Slam this time? She certainly has the backing…
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