Coco Gauff: A Rising Star in Women’s Tennis
High School
Coco Gauff was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2004. She started playing tennis at the age of six and quickly rose through the junior ranks. Coco, at 15 years, won the her first singles title. The title made Gauff the youngest WTA singles champion in 15 years. This achievement has not been met since Nicole Vaidisova won two WTA titles in 2004, also as a 15-year-old.
Coco’s high school experience was unlike most teenagers. She was homeschooled so that she could focus on her tennis career. Coco also took online courses and participated in virtual school. Meanwhile, she attended Mouratoglu Academy in Paris to hone her tennis skills.
Gauff said that she enjoyed her homeschool experience because it allowed her to be flexible with her schedule and travel to tournaments. She also said that she was able to learn at her own pace and focus on the subjects that she was interested in.
However, Gauff also said that she missed out on some of the social aspects of high school.
She didn’t get to go to prom or hang out with her friends after school. Coco also said that she sometimes felt lonely and isolated. Overall, Gauff said that she was grateful for her homeschool experience. She said that it allowed her to pursue her dream of becoming a professional tennis player.
Professional
Gauff made her debut on the ITF Women’s Circuit in May 2018 as a qualifier. She won her first professional match in the $25K event at Osprey. Coco received a wild card into qualifying at the US Open. But, lost her opening match 5 months after turning 14 years old. Coco has won two WTA Tour titles and has reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament on four occasions.
US Open 2023
Coco Gauff, the 18-year-old American tennis sensation, stunned world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka to win the 2023 US Open women’s singles title. Gauff, who was seeded 16th, won the match in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Gauff’s victory was her first Grand Slam title and made her the youngest US Open champion since Serena Williams in 1999. She is also the first American woman to win the USOpen since Sloane Stephens in 2017.
Gauff’s performance at the US Open was nothing short of remarkable. She defeated a number of top players, including No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka, No. 7 Iga Swiatek, and No. 11 Angelique Kerber. Coco also became the first player to come back from a set down to win the US Open women’s singles title since 2011. Gauff’s victory is a testament to her talent and determination. She is a rising star in tennis and is sure to be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.
