As the saying goes, “A grandmother is both a sword and a shield!”, and for Coco Gauff, Yvonne Lee Odom has been exactly that. A pillar of strength and wisdom, she’s been Coco’s guiding force, shaping the fearless young woman we see today. When Coco stands up for justice and speaks her truth, it’s easy to trace that courage back to her trailblazing grandmother, the miraculous woman who became the first Black student at Delray Beach’s Seacrest High School. Now celebrating her 75th birthday, Yvonne is being showered with heartfelt love and admiration. And rightly so! How could Coco and her mother not honor the pride of Delray Beach on her special day? 

Coco Gauff’s grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, has faced trials far greater than anything on the professional tennis court. Because of her race, she couldn’t ride the same bus, use the same restrooms, or play sports at Seacrest, even though she excelled as a sprinter and basketball captain. This crushed her dream of earning a college sports scholarship.

Yet today, her unfulfilled hopes find life in Coco’s remarkable journey. Gauff has often credited her grandmother for shaping her values. After winning the US Open in 2023, she paid tribute: “She always taught me to approach every situation with kindness and understanding. For her to go through what she did during that time is something that I think … what I do — putting out a tweet or saying a speech — is so easy compared to that.” 

Coco Gauff’s mother, Candi, led the birthday celebrations with heartfelt IG stories dedicated to her mother, Yvonne Lee Odom. In one photo, Candi and her mother were all smiles, both dressed in purple, radiating joy. Another picture showed Odom proudly holding an award. Coco’s mother captioned her post with warmth and pride: “Guess what? It’s my mom’s birthday! Yvonne Odom. Let’s wish my mom a happy birthday. I love you! Today is your day, especially designed for YOU!”

Following her mother’s lead, Coco Gauff also took to IG to express her love and gratitude. She posted a collage of four photos, 3 of them featuring herself and her grandmother, and one showing off Odom in a stunning purple dress. Gauff captioned the story with a message: “Happy birthday to my beautiful grandmother, thank you for helping to shape me to the woman I am today, I love you @yvonne.odom.”

Yvonne Lee Odom’s influence on Coco has been evident throughout the tennis star’s life. Even last month, as Coco prepared to launch her latest signature shoe with NB, her grandmother played a starring role in the promotional video alongside scenes from their hometown, Delray Beach.

Ahead of the launch, Gauff penned an emotional note thanking those who made it special. This marks the third shoe in her line, following the ‘Coco CG1’ and ‘Coco CG2.’ She highlighted the meaningful collaboration in an IG story, writing: “My new shoe with new balance launches tomorrow, thank you to my grandma for starring in this @yvonne.odom, thank you @joefreshgoods for helping create the vision, you are awesome and so talented! Thank you @newbalance for trusting me, and most importantly thank you Delray Beach for inspiring me.”

And as the Iron Lady celebrates her 75th birthday, Coco Gauff once again reminds the world how deeply her grandmother has inspired her journey, both on the court and far beyond it.

“I’m a person first instead of an athlete,” Coco Gauff shares

The 21-year-old has never shied away from using her voice to stand up for what she believes in. Whether it’s speaking out against anti-LGBTQ laws in Florida or demanding racial justice at a Black Lives Matter rally, her boldness has been evident both on and off the court. When asked about the inspiration behind her courage, Gauff once added, “She’s (grandmother) the sole, or one of the main, reasons why I use my platform the way that I do and why I feel so comfortable speaking out.”

Coco often reflects on the adversity her grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, faced in her youth. “For her to go through what she did during that time [makes me think that] putting out a tweet or saying a speech is so easy compared to that. That’s why I have no problem doing the things that I do. She always reminds me that I’m a person first instead of an athlete.” 

The 9-time WTA singles winner also credited her grandmother for teaching her to navigate life with empathy: “She always taught me to approach every situation with kindness and understanding.”

Now, as Coco gears up to face Magda Linette in Rome, a player who previously defeated her in Miami, she carries her grandmother’s strength with her. Could her 1st title of the season become the perfect birthday gift for the woman she calls her greatest inspiration?