Coco Gauff’s Qatar Open campaign ended in sheer disappointment, again! The WTA No. 3 who never made it past the quarterfinals in Doha, lost to Marta Kostyuk in straight sets by 2-6 and 5-7 in the R32. For three consecutive years, Qatar has proven to be a tough deal for Gauff, but she has been around long enough to know wins and losses are part and parcel of the sport. Gauff has moved on and guess who is her Valentine this year? No, it’s not Ons Jabeur, despite the Tunisian’s proposal.
Coco Gauff decided to spend quality time with her mother Candi this Valentine’s and why not? She was the one who shaped her character and helped her build that mental strength before the world knew her. The 2025 Qatar Open exit must have been gutting for Gauff, after an underwhelming campaign at the Australian Open. But her mom Candi stood by her like a rock. The mother-daughter duo enjoyed quality time in Dubai and celebrated the day of love together.
The World No. 3 shared a video of savoring delicious food with her mother, who is a former heptathlon athlete. Sharing the reel, Gauff wrote, “V-day dinner with my mom @candigauff.” Her words reflected her equation with her mother, one that her followers witnessed many times, especially last year on Valentine’s Day.
Last year, on Valentine’s Day, Gauff cruised a quadricycle on Qatar’s Sealine Desert with her mom. After exiting the 2024 Qatar Open in the second round, she spent her time sightseeing with her mother in Doha. The duo shared snippets of their outings on their respective Instagram handles, and Gauff captioned it as “Motorsport.” Although brief, her words showed her thrill for such adventures. Her mother Candi, however, expressed her gratitude to be able to see another sunset. “Live to see another day. Happy Valentine’s day from Doha, Qatar,” she wrote in her caption.
For Coco Gauff, her mother is her constant travel partner. Be it cheering for her daughter at the 2025 United Cup or visiting the Great Wall of China together during their trip to Beijing, Candi has been Coco’s partner in crime. Reflecting on this special bond with her mother previously, Coco Gauff said, “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 maybe is more isolated than usual, we just play Uno lot.”
She also highlighted how her mother took care of everything on tour and became her constant support. “It’s great to have my mom. She’s my biggest fan for sure. Having one or both of my parents I think always makes the tournament easier. You don’t have to take care of some things. She’s always reminding, me, Do you have your headphones, change of shoes, and clothes? Just things that moms, dads, they all do,” Gauff added.
Although Gauff decided to spend the entire day with her mom, in a cute gesture, she had a special offer this Valentine’s.
Coco Gauff agreed to be her colleague’s “Galentine”
Coco Gauff was proposed by the Ministry of Happiness, Ons Jabeur on Valentine’s Eve. In a video shared by the WTA’s Instagram handle, the Tunisian could be seen asking the World No. 3, “Will you be my Valentine?” and Gauff said, “Yes!” The moment caught the fans off-guard and highlighted their beautiful friendship. After Gauff’s response, the show’s producer remarked that Gauff chose Galentine’s rather than Valentine’s, and Gauff agreed. “I did choose Galantine’s Day. I don’t have anything for you, so the hug is for you. I, like, saw somebody coming from the bushes. I was like, who the heck is jumping over?,” the American said, as she hugged Jabeur. Galentine’s Day is actually a global holiday celebrating women’s friendship.
However, the scene took a quirky yet funny turn, when Gauff asked Jabeur, “Thank you (For the rose). How many people have you done this for, though? How many Valentines do you have?” Gauff’s hilarious dig at Jabeur made her flee from the scene. “ See you!” the Tunisian said, as she chuckled and disappeared. Jabeur’s gesture prompted Gauff to add a sarcastic conclusion. “Oh, okay. Maybe it’s not as special anymore,” she said.
Coco Gauff’s Valentine’s Day celebration with her mother warmed the fraternity’s hearts. However, her recent setbacks on the court have got the fans worried as well. Are you backing Coco to regain her form soon?
The post Love Is in the Air for Coco Gauff as She Celebrates the Perfect Valentines Day With Mom Candi appeared first on EssentiallySports.
