Coco Gauff has become a defining player in women’s tennis, blending athletic talent with poise under pressure. Born in Delray Beach, Florida, in 2004, she turned professional in 2018 and captured global attention at 15 with her Wimbledon run.
By age 21, she has won 11 WTA singles titles, including two Grand Slams, and 10 doubles titles. Her 2024 WTA Finals victory marked her as the youngest champion there since 2004. In 2025, she added a French Open title and reached three WTA 1000 finals.
As of February 2026, after a quarterfinal at the Australian Open and a semifinal run in Dubai, she ranks No. 5 with over $30 million in prize money. Gauff’s rise reflects a player who combines skill with advocacy, inspiring a new generation.
Career Overview
Gauff’s pro career ignited in 2019 when, as the youngest qualifier in Wimbledon history, she defeated Venus Williams and reached the fourth round. That year, she won her first WTA title in Linz and two doubles crowns, ending at No. 68. In doubles, she claimed the 2019 US Open with Caty McNally.
The 2020 season saw her reach the Australian Open fourth round, but the pandemic limited play. In 2021, she won Parma, reached the French Open quarterfinals, and hit No. 19. She also secured an Olympic spot but withdrew due to COVID-19. The 2022 year brought her first major final at the French Open, losing to Iga Swiatek, and a doubles title in Toronto. She peaked at No. 4 in singles and No. 1 in doubles.
Gauff’s 2023 breakout included four titles—Auckland, Washington, her first WTA 1000 in Cincinnati, and the US Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka for her maiden major. She became the youngest American US Open champion since Serena Williams in 1999.
In 2024, she defended Auckland, won Beijing, and claimed the WTA Finals in Riyadh, beating No. 1 Swiatek and No. 2 Sabalenka en route. She also won the French Open doubles with Katerina Siniakova and reached semifinals at the Australian and French Opens, ascending to No. 2.
In 2025, Gauff captured her second major at the French Open, avenging her 2022 final loss by beating Sabalenka. She added a WTA 1000 in Wuhan and finals in Madrid and Rome, marking her as the first American with three WTA 1000 finals in a year since Serena in 2014. She won Montreal doubles and reached the Australian Open quarterfinals. At the Paris Olympics, she served as a U.S. flag bearer but exited early in singles.
Entering 2026, Gauff reached the Australian Open quarterfinals, losing to Elena Rybakina, and advanced to the Dubai semifinals. Her career singles record stands at 284-118, with a 10-1 mark in finals before 2025. Off the court, she advocates for social issues, including racial equality and education, and has partnerships with brands like New Balance and Rolex.
Playing Style
Gauff plays as an athletic all-court aggressor, using speed and power to control points. Her forehand, hit with a big swing, generates pace but can falter under pressure, often leading to adjustments like squatting low or stepping back. She has worked on her serve, which reaches over 120 mph but has seen technical tweaks to reduce double faults.
Her backhand provides stability, with flat shots and slices to mix pace and keep opponents off balance. At 5’9″, her movement stands out—she covers the court quickly, sliding on clay and transitioning to offense from defense. She excels in long rallies, winning more points over nine shots than peers, and uses drop shots and net play selectively.
Gauff adapts across surfaces, thriving on hard courts with her baseline game but improving on clay, as shown by her 2025 French Open win. Mentally, she stays composed in big moments, drawing from coaches like Brad Gilbert to focus on strategy. Peers highlight her maturity, noting how she turns defense into attack, making her a tough out in high-stakes matches.
Grand Slam Record
Gauff has two Grand Slam singles titles from 24 appearances, with a 78-24 win-loss record. She has reached semifinals or better in six majors.
The US Open is her home triumph, winning in 2023 over Sabalenka after semifinals in 2021 and quarterfinals in 2022. Her 20-6 record there includes her first major quarterfinal at 17. At the French Open, she won in 2025 against Sabalenka, was runner-up in 2022 to Swiatek, and reached semifinals in 2024. Her 27-5 mark reflects clay prowess, starting with a 2021 quarterfinal.
The Australian Open has seen steady progress: semifinals in 2024 (loss to Sabalenka), quarterfinals in 2025 and 2026 (both to Rybakina). Her 20-7 record began with a fourth round in 2020. Wimbledon highlights include fourth rounds in 2019, 2021, and 2024, with an 11-6 tally, though no quarterfinal yet.
In doubles, she won the 2024 French Open with Siniakova and reached the 2021 US Open final. Gauff is the youngest since 2004 to win the WTA Finals and holds records like most WTA 1000 wins before 21.
Career Milestones
Gauff’s achievements include records that underscore her precocity. At 15, she became the youngest Wimbledon main-draw qualifier and defeated a top-5 player (Venus Williams). Her 2019 Linz title made her the youngest WTA champion since 2004. In 2021, she was the youngest French Open quarterfinalist since 2006.
She hit No. 1 in doubles in 2022 after Toronto, the youngest since 2010. Her 2023 US Open win marked her as the first American teen major champion since 1999 and the youngest since Sharapova in 2004. That year, she won her first WTA 1000 in Cincinnati, beating Swiatek for the first time.
In 2024, Gauff defended Auckland, won Beijing as the youngest champion in 14 years, and claimed the WTA Finals, defeating the top two players and earning a record $4.8 million. She became the first woman to win her first seven WTA hard-court finals. Her No. 2 ranking in June was her career high.
The 2025 French Open victory made her a multiple major winner at 21, and her Wuhan title was her third WTA 1000. She reached 25 Grand Slam match wins by age 21, a feat unmatched by Americans in the Open Era. In team events, she helped the U.S. to Billie Jean King Cup finals. Her advocacy earned her Time’s 2023 Women of the Year recognition.
