Coco Gauff Biography: The Teen Prodigy Who Became a Two-Time Grand Slam Champion

November 9, 2026

Daniel Reed

Coco Gauff biography: Cori “Coco” Gauff is an American tennis player and a two-time Grand Slam singles champion who became a global star at 15 by beating Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019. She won the US Open at 19 in 2023, the French Open in 2025 and the WTA Finals in 2024, reaching a career-high world No. 2.

Quick facts

Full name: Cori Dionne Gauff
Born: 13 March 2004, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Nationality: American
Occupation: Professional tennis player
Known for: Winning the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open; the 2024 WTA Finals title; beating Venus Williams at Wimbledon aged 15
Parents: Corey Gauff and Candi Gauff
Siblings: Two younger brothers, Codey and Cameron
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Residence: Delray Beach, Florida

Early life and background

Cori Dionne Gauff was born on 13 March 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia, to Corey and Candi Gauff, both former college athletes: her father played basketball at Georgia State, her mother ran track at Florida State. She first became interested in tennis at four, watching Serena Williams win the 2009 Australian Open, and picked up a racket at six. When she was seven, the family moved back to her parents’ hometown of Delray Beach, Florida, for better training; she worked with Gerard Loglo at the New Generation Tennis Academy from eight, with her father as her first main coach and her mother overseeing her homeschooling. At ten she began training at Mouratoglou’s academy in France.

As a junior, Gauff rose fast. She reached the 2017 US Open girls’ singles final at 13 — the youngest finalist in the event’s history — then won the 2018 French Open girls’ singles title and the US Open junior doubles crown with Caty McNally, reaching junior world No. 1 in July 2018. She turned professional in 2018, debuting on the WTA Tour at Miami in March 2019.

The Wimbledon breakthrough of 2019

Gauff’s life changed at Wimbledon 2019. Aged 15, she won three qualifying matches to become the youngest player in the Open Era to reach the main draw, then beat her idol, five-time champion Venus Williams, in straight sets in round one. She reached the fourth round — the youngest player to reach the last 16 there since 1991 — losing to eventual champion Simona Halep. She arrived with only about $75,000 in career prize money and left a global star. That October she won her first WTA title at Linz.

Rise through the rankings, 2020–2022

Her rise after Wimbledon was steady. In 2020 she beat defending champion Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open and reached the fourth round. In 2021 she won the Emilia-Romagna Open and reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final at the French Open. In 2022 she reached her first Grand Slam singles final at the French Open, losing to Iga Świątek 6-1, 6-3 — at 18, the youngest major finalist since Maria Sharapova in 2004 — and became world No. 1 in doubles.

First major: the 2023 US Open

The summer of 2023 made her a Grand Slam champion. After an early Wimbledon loss she added Brad Gilbert to her team, then won Washington and her first WTA 1000 title in Cincinnati. At the US Open she fought through to the final against Aryna Sabalenka and, after dropping the first set, rallied to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 — the youngest American woman to win the title since Serena Williams in 1999.

2024: WTA Finals champion and doubles glory

Gauff reached a career-high world No. 2 in June 2024. At the French Open she made the singles semi-finals and won the doubles title with Kateřina Siniaková. At the Paris Olympics she carried the American flag alongside LeBron James at the opening ceremony, though she won no medal. After splitting with Gilbert in September she added Matt Daly alongside longtime coach Jean-Christophe Faurel, then won the China Open and the WTA Finals in Riyadh, beating Świątek, Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) in a three-hour final. She was the youngest WTA Finals champion since Maria Sharapova in 2004; the $4.805 million cheque was then the biggest single-event payout in women’s tennis.

Second major: the 2025 French Open

In spring 2025 Gauff reached the Madrid and Rome finals, then won the French Open, beating world No. 1 Sabalenka 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 — the first American woman to win there since Serena Williams in 2015. She added the Wuhan Open, her third WTA 1000 title, and finished the year world No. 3. Off court, she left Roger Federer’s Team8 agency in April 2025, joined WME and launched Coco Gauff Enterprises. In August she parted with coach Matt Daly and added biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan to work on her serve.

2026: semi-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open

Her 2026 season brought deep runs and one title: Australian Open quarter-finals, Miami and Rome finals, and a third-round loss at Roland-Garros as defending champion. On grass she beat Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach her first Wimbledon semi-final, only the sixth woman since 2000 to make the last four at all four majors before 23, before losing to Karolína Muchová. At the US Open she saved two match points against Mirra Andreeva to reach the semi-final, where Elena Rybakina beat her 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Her one title came at Cincinnati in August, beating Pegula 6-2, 6-4. She finished the regular season 47–15, ranked world No. 4.

The 2026 WTA Finals: a winning start at Indian Wells

Gauff arrived at the 2026 WTA Finals in Indian Wells, California, as fourth seed and defending champion — her fifth straight appearance, the youngest to do so since Martina Hingis (1996–2000). On 8 November 2026 she opened against Jessica Pegula, recovering from 1-5 down in the second set to win 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 in two hours and 40 minutes. She next faces Linda Noskova.

Personal life

Gauff keeps her private life out of the spotlight. She lives in Delray Beach, where in December 2025 she shared a look inside her own custom-built home on Instagram. In June 2020 she spoke at a Black Lives Matter protest in Delray Beach, telling the crowd: “If you are choosing silence, you’re choosing the side of the oppressor.” Time named her to its Women of the Year list in February 2024. Away from tennis she is learning French and enjoys reading and crochet.

Net worth snapshot

Coco Gauff’s net worth is estimated at $50 million as of 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth, up from $35 million in September 2026. Her wealth rests on more than $36.8 million in career prize money and one of the biggest endorsement portfolios in women’s sport. Read the full breakdown in Coco Gauff’s net worth.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Coco Gauff?

Coco Gauff was born on 13 March 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia, making her 22 years old in November 2026.

How many Grand Slam titles has Coco Gauff won?

Coco Gauff has won two Grand Slam singles titles: the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open, both times beating Aryna Sabalenka in the final. She has also won one Grand Slam doubles title, the 2024 French Open with Kateřina Siniaková, and the 2024 WTA Finals.

What is Coco Gauff’s net worth?

Coco Gauff’s net worth is estimated at $50 million as of 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth, which raised its estimate from $35 million in September 2026. Her wealth comes from more than $36.8 million in career prize money and a large endorsement portfolio led by New Balance, Rolex and Bose.

Who is Coco Gauff’s coach?

Coco Gauff’s coach is Jean-Christophe Faurel, who has worked with her for years. Since August 2025 she has also worked with biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan on her serve. She previously worked with Brad Gilbert, who coached her to the 2023 US Open title, and with Pere Riba and Matt Daly.