Coco Gauff: Florida Native, Global Champion Back in Miami

5 days ago
3 min read

For Coco Gauff, the Miami Open is more than a tournament stop — it is home. A native Floridian born in Delray Beach, Gauff returns each year to familiar courts and familiar conditions, competing in front of the community that first watched her rise. As part of Miami Living’s annual tennis interview series, we spoke with the Grand Slam champion about growing up in Florida, managing success at a young age, and adjusting her game to Miami’s demanding heat and humidity at the Miami Open.

BY MARKIN ABRAS | PHOTOS COCO GAUFF /INSTAGRAM

Cori Dionne Gauff, known as Coco Gauff, was born in Delray Beach, Florida, and raised in nearby Atlanta before her family returned to South Florida to support her tennis career. Her father, Corey Gauff, left his job to coach her, while her mother, Candi Gauff, managed her schedule. She began playing tennis at age six and later trained at the Mouratoglou Academy under Patrick Mouratoglou. Gauff turned professional in 2018 and quickly made global headlines at Wimbledon in 2019, where she defeated Venus Williams in the first round at just 15 years old. She reached the fourth round in her Grand Slam debut, becoming one of the youngest players to achieve that milestone.

Despite her young age, she has remained grounded and approachable. She once shared a fun personal detail when asked about a hidden talent. “I can walk on my hands,” Coco Gauff said. “That’s probably something people don’t expect, but everything else, they already know.”

Her first WTA singles title came at the Linz Open in 2019, making her the youngest tour-level champion in 15 years. She added titles at the Emilia-Romagna Open in 2021 and began building consistency at the highest level. Her defining moment came at the US Open in 2023, where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the final to win her first Grand Slam singles title. That same season, she won the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati and followed it with another WTA 1000 title at the China Open in Beijing in 2024, defeating Karolina Muchova in the final.

She also won the ASB Classic in Auckland in both 2023 and 2024. Her success during this stretch helped her rise to a career high ranking of world No. 2. Off the court, she keeps her routines simple, especially when it comes to sleep. “I try not to be on my phone right before bed,” she said. “Once I’m tired, I fall asleep pretty easily.”

Playing the Miami Open holds special meaning for Gauff because it takes place close to where she grew up and trained. The conditions require adjustments, especially compared to other stops on tour. “Hydration is very important here,” she explained. “Coming from Indian Wells, which is dry, to Miami, you have to be ready for the humidity. I also try to play the ball deep, because the heat can really affect the points.” Her best result at the Miami Open came in 2022, 2024, and 2025, when she reached the fourth round in each of those years.

Coco Gauff's stats:

Age: 21 (March 13, 2004)

Birth place: Delray Beach, Florida

Career high: World No. 2

Single titles: 11

Miami Open Best: 4th Round in 2022, 2024 and 2025

Prize Money: US$ 30,830,836

www.instagram.com/cocogauff