“Continue to grow and dig… Today you had to dig deep!” These were Coco Gauff’s mother Candi’s words before the United Cup final. And Coco did dig deep. Team USA triumphed over Poland, thanks to Coco’s stunning straight-sets victory over Iga Swiatek in the final. But after that high, the 21-year-old faced a quiet spell: no finals, no titles. But now Madrid has become her stage for resurgence. In a poetic twist, she’s booked her spot in the final. And guess who she has beaten once again? It’s Swiatek. Through it all, Candi remains the ever-present anchor in Coco’s journey. And just like always, she’s showing up, not at courtside, but with words of wisdom, boundless love, and unmatched belief in her daughter.
The World No. 4 Coco Gauff stunned the tennis world with a dominant display, eliminating defending champion Iga Swiatek emphatically, by 6-1, 6-1. The victory was a statement, one that underlined Gauff’s rising dominance on clay as she eyes her first-ever title at the Madrid Open. If she triumphs in the final, it would mark her 19th career title and her 10th in singles, a monumental milestone in her young but already storied journey.
And just as always, her mother, Candi, has been right there, cheering, supporting, and showing the world what maternal pride looks like. A couple of hours ago, the official IG page of the WTA shared an update celebrating Coco’s success, captioned, “The fantastic week continues .” The post also noted, “Gauff becomes the second-youngest finalist at the Madrid Open since 2009.” Well, that’s a rare and remarkable feat. Almost instantly, Candi re-shared the post on her own IG story, adding a heart emoji alongside a mention of her daughter.
Candi frequently travels alongside her daughter, providing emotional support during the highs and lows of the tour. For instance, during a press conference ahead of the 2024 WTA Finals, Gauff reflected on how vital her mother’s presence is.
“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. In May 2024, as well, Gauff echoed similar sentiments in an interview, calling her mother her “biggest fan.” That unwavering support continues to guide her through every challenge, every victory, and every dream.
Now, as Candi beams with pride, Coco is just one step away from becoming a first-time Madrid Open champion. But between her and the crown stands a fierce obstacle: Aryna Sabalenka, a true tigress of the game, whom Gauff must conquer to complete her fairytale run.
Coco Gauff shared her candid opinion after reaching the Madrid Open final
Coco’s evolution in her rivalry with Iga Swiatek reached a dramatic high in Madrid, where the American dismantled the former top seed, 6-1, 6-1, to book her spot in the final. Once trailing 11-1 in their H2H and having lost their first 7 encounters, Gauff is now 3-0 against Swiatek since late 2024. Her latest victory took just 64 minutes on Manolo Santana Stadium, marking her first clay-court WTA 1000 final.
Having previously lost all 11 matches in straight sets, including five on clay, Gauff’s breakthrough began at the 2024 WTA Finals and continued at the United Cup in early 2025. Right after her victory over Swiatek in the Madrid Open SF, she expressed the burning desire that fueled her mindset: pure determination to finally conquer her long-time nemesis.
“[I’m proud of] the mentality I had through the whole match,” Coco said. “I think I was aggressive and played with the margin. Maybe it wasn’t her best level today, but I think I kind of forced her into some awkward positions. I’m really happy with how I played today.”
Later, she also admitted that she wanted to raise her level on the court. “You know, at any moment, she can come back and play great tennis. So, for me, it was just about making sure my level stayed the same and actually trying to raise it. I knew in the second set, I had to raise it because she could come back,” she added.
With history on her side, Coco Gauff heads into the Madrid Open final with a 5-4 edge over the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, including a defining comeback win in the 2023 US Open final. That GS victory may give the American ace a psychological boost as the two meet again with another prestigious title at stake in the Spanish capital. With both players in top form, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown: who will rise in Madrid this time? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Coco Gauff’s Mother Candi Beams With Pride After Daughter Hits a Huge Milestone at the Madrid Open appeared first on EssentiallySports.
