What To Know About Rising Tennis Star Coco Gauff

The 16-year-old sports sensation is taking the French Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon and the world by storm

Just days ago, Cori “Coco” Gauff won 6-3, 6-3 against Johanna Konta (who was a semi-finalist last year) at the ongoing 2020 French Open. Powering her way through the Roland Garros stadium, the 16-year-old is one of the youngest competitors in history to set foot on the famed clay court, in addition to being the youngest player in the Women's Tennis Association Top 100 rankings. Having racked up several notable wins against top seeds — like Venus Wlliams at Wimbledon 2019, and most recently, Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open back in January — Gauff is undoubtedly the sports sensation to watch.

Here, we list eight facts you might not know about this rising athlete.

Originally from Florida, Coco was born into a family of winners. Her parents were both all-star athletes in college. Father Corey Gauff was an NCAA Division I basketball player at Georgia State University, while her mother Candi Gauff was a gymnast and a track-and-field athlete at Florida State University. Coco has two younger brothers, Codey and Cameron.
Although her father wanted her to be a basketball player, Coco didn’t enjoy the sport as much as she did tennis. Inspired by legendary sisters Serena and Venus Williams, she picked up her racket when she was six years old.
Coco was the runner-up at the 2017 US Open, and a year later, the winner of the Roland Garros Junior Championships. It marked the start of her professional career, and she has come a long way since.
After signing a multi-year sponsorship with New Balance, Gauff became one of the faces of the sportswear label. Just 14 at the time, the tennis star has since become a huge inspiration for aspiring athletes around the world.
Some of Gauff's other sponsors include the tennis racket company Head, and Barilla (yes, the pasta company) — joining Roger Federer. As a teenage athlete, Coco has already reached celebrity millionaire status.
Other than her tennis idols, Gauff also looks up to Rihanna, Beyoncé and Michelle Obama (she got to meet the latter in 2019).
Coco is coached by her dad as well as Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams' longtime trainer.
Despite her many achievements and accolades, at the end of the day, Coco is still a kid at heart, and a true Gen Z-er. In celebration of her 2019 Wimbledon win, she posted the “And I—Oop!” meme on social media, which was made famous by RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Jasmine Masters.