“Be a Good Person First,” Coco Gauff’s Mother Opens Up On Strategies That Balance Her On Court And Off Court Endeavors

Coco Gauff stands out not just for her fierce tennis but also for her down-to-earth nature. We can thank her parents, Candi and Corey Gauff, for that! Growing up in Delray Beach, Florida, with access to great training facilities, Coco started playing tennis at six. Her parents’ athletic backgrounds gave her a strong foundation and a clear understanding of the dedication needed for professional sports. But they instilled a strong work ethic and belief in her abilities from a young age. Even as Coco’s career soared, her parents stayed central, offering unwavering support and guidance. Now, Candi is revealing what they practiced helping their daughter shine.

At the Madrid Open, where 21-year-old Coco reached her first final of the season against Aryna Sabalenka, her mother gave an intriguing interview to Le Tweener posted on May 10. Though Coco’s 2025 season hasn’t matched the highs of late 2024 and her United Cup win, her popularity since her 2023 US Open triumph and before hasn’t been diminished. Candi was asked, “How it was to deal with her image. Because when she was 10 she was already known, I think almost worldwide?”

She replied, “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.”

Coco Gauff’s rise was meteoric. She first grabbed global attention at 15 during the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. As the youngest qualifier in the Open Era, she stunned the tennis world by beating Venus Williams in the first round. This incredible debut launched her into the spotlight.

Before that, Coco was already a strong junior player. She reached the U.S. Open junior girls’ singles final in 2017 and won the French Open junior girls’ singles title in 2018. Her WTA Tour debut came in March 2019 at the Miami Open. After Wimbledon, she kept making waves, winning her first WTA singles title at the Linz Open later that year at 15. She became the youngest player to win a WTA title since 2004.

Now the 21-year-old has reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 in singles (June 2024) and No. 1 in doubles (August 2022). Her biggest achievement is winning the 2023 US Open singles title, becoming the youngest American to do so since Serena Williams in 1999. Currently sitting at No. 3 in the rankings and just finished the Madrid Open as runner-up, she’s certainly not one to back down.

But off the court, Coco credits her faith and community for keeping her grounded. Since she was eight, she has prayed with her father before every match and regularly attends church. In a 2025 Vogue interview, she said, “Sometimes you also feel like your whole identity is tied to your results. But the more focused I am on faith, too, I realize I’m much more than my sport.”

She shows her down-to-earth nature through actions. She led the refurbishment of the Pompey Park tennis courts in Delray Beach, where her journey began, and hosted a youth clinic there. Not to mention, she honored her roots by releasing the “Coco Delray” signature shoe with New Balance, referencing her hometown. Beyond Delray Beach, she donated $100,000 to the UNCF to create scholarships for HBCU tennis players. So, how does Coco really see herself outside the spotlight?

Coco on how “awkward” it is being recognized outside of the court

Last month at the Stuttgart Open, Coco Gauff opened up to Tennis Channel about how often people recognize her in public. Even as the youngest American to win the 2023 US Open since Williams, and with nearly 2 million Instagram followers and 790K Followers on TikTok, she’s still adjusting to the spotlight.

“Sometimes pretty quickly,” she said. “And sometimes you have someone look at you and then by the time you walk you can hear them be like, ‘oh my, god, is that Coco?’ And so most of the time I just keep walking because I don’t want to…I don’t know it’s kind of awkward. Like, ‘yeah, it is me’ or something.”

At 21, Coco’s trophy shelf is already packed with 10 WTA singles titles, including the 2023 US Open and 2024 WTA Finals. But off the court, she’s just a regular young woman. “I mean, it’s cool to connect with different people, and it’s always crazy for me. I get recognized and especially in places not in the US I don’t know…in the US, I expect it, but I went to the mall today and I got recognized, so I wasn’t expecting that.”

After an electric run at the Madrid Open, Coco is now at the Italian Open. She cruised into the round of 32 by beating Victoria Mboko in straight sets. Right now, she’s up against Magda Linette and showing promise, though the results are still pending. After her first win in Rome, she said, “I was pretty composed because I felt like I was playing the right way.” Will Coco keep the momentum rolling in Rome? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!