Cori Gauff, also known as Coco, may just be 15 years old but she’s already on her way to becoming a tennis champion. She cemented her place as a shoe in after defeating idol Venus Williams in the first round at Wimbeldon, June 24, 2019.
Born on March 13, 2004 in Atlanta, GA to parents Corey and Candi Gauff, former athletes themselves, Gauff began to train professionally for tennis at 6 years old after being inspired by the Williams sisters.
She has said, “Serena Williams has always been my idol… and Venus. They are the reason why I wanted to pick up a tennis racket.”
Gauff actually dabbled in a variety of sports beforehand with the encouragement of her parents, former athletes themselves. Her dad played college basketball at Georgia State University and mom ran track and field at Florida State University.
Gauff was seven when she moved with her family to Delray Beach, FL (her parent’s hometown) for better opportunities to excel at the sport. At eight years old she won the Little Mo eight-and-under nationals and decided she would pursue the sport as her career.
She began playing on the ITF Junior Circuit at 13 and reached the final at the junior US Open and would go on to win one junior grand slam singles title and another in doubles, making her a former world no.1 junior. She was also the runner-up in the girls’ singles event at the 2017 US Open, making her the youngest finalist in the tournament’s history.
She’s also won two junior Grand Slam tournament titles, one in singles at the 2018 French Open and one in doubles at the 2018 US Open.
Gauff made her WTA Tour debut in March 2019 at the Miami Open and won her opening match. She received a wild card into the qualifying draw at Wimbledon and became the youngest player to qualify for the main draw in the tournament’s history. In the first round, Gauff won the match against one of her idols and Williams sisters, Venus Williams.
After her win Gauff stated, “I was just telling her thank you for everything she’s done for the sport. She’s been an inspiration for many people. I was just really telling her thank you.”
*Update*: Gauff’s Wimbeldon run came to a close when she lost in her second week of the tournament to Simona Halep, July 8, 2019.
Something tells me this isn’t the last time we’ll be hearing about Cori Guaff, however. This young lady has a bright future ahead of her.
