Coco Gauff: America’s Grand Slam Champion
Coco Gauff’s rise happened in full public view, starting at an age when most players are still grinding through junior tournaments out of the spotlight entirely. She made her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon in 2019 at just 15 years old, ranked 313th in the world, and drew a first-round match against Venus Williams — the kind of storyline that could have been dismissed as a one-off novelty. Instead, it turned out to be the opening chapter of one of the most closely followed careers in modern women’s tennis.
An early, historic Grand Slam final
Gauff’s first major final came at the 2022 French Open, where at 18 years and two months old she became the youngest Grand Slam finalist since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon 2004. She lost that final to Iga Świątek, who was in the middle of an extended unbeaten run on the WTA Tour at the time, but reaching a Slam final that young confirmed she belonged among the sport’s genuine contenders rather than just its most promising prospects.
Breaking through: the 2023 US Open
Gauff won her first Grand Slam singles title on home soil at the 2023 US Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final. It capped a strong season that also included titles in Cincinnati, Washington D.C., and Auckland. She backed it up with a dominant close to 2024, winning the WTA Finals and setting a record for the most WTA 1000 tournament wins by any player before turning 21, alongside her first Grand Slam doubles title at the French Open partnering Kateřina Siniaková.
A second major title, and history against Sabalenka
In 2025, Gauff won her second Grand Slam singles title at the French Open, again defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final — this time in a tense three-set match, their third Grand Slam final meeting. The result made American women the winners of the first two majors of that season, and marked the first Roland Garros final between the WTA’s world No. 1 and No. 2 since 2013.
Gauff also represented the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the youngest athlete ever to serve as the U.S. flag-bearer at an opening ceremony.
The one record that’s eluded her
Despite her success on hard courts (US Open) and clay (French Open), Wimbledon has remained the one Grand Slam where Gauff hasn’t been able to go all the way, despite having played there six times since her 2019 debut. Her best Wimbledon result came in 2026, when she reached the semifinals before losing to Karolina Muchová in three sets — her most successful run yet at the All England Club, and a promising sign for the grass-court title that’s so far proven the hardest of the four majors for her to crack.
Rivalry with Aryna Sabalenka
Gauff’s matches against Sabalenka have become one of the WTA’s defining rivalries of the mid-2020s, having met in three Grand Slam finals to date. Their contrasting styles — Sabalenka’s raw power against Gauff’s speed, athleticism, and increasingly reliable serve — have made their encounters must-watch events whenever they land on the same side of a draw.
Background
Cori “Coco” Dionne Gauff was born on 13 March 2004 in Delray Beach, Florida. She turned professional in 2018 and has been coached by Jean-Christophe Faurel since 2023, part of a coaching setup that’s helped refine her serve and overall consistency as she’s matured from teenage prodigy into a genuine multiple-Slam champion.
Where her career stands
Coco Gauff’s career has moved from headline-grabbing teenage promise to genuine, repeated Grand Slam success in the space of a few years — two major singles titles, a WTA Finals crown, an Olympic flag-bearer honour, and a rivalry with Aryna Sabalenka that’s shaping the current era of women’s tennis. With Wimbledon still the one major title missing from her collection, and her Wimbledon form clearly trending upward, it may not stay that way for long.
Quick facts
Full name: Cori Dionne Gauff | Born: 13 March 2004, Delray Beach, Florida | Turned pro: 2018 | Notable: Two Grand Slam singles titles (2023 US Open, 2025 French Open), 2024 WTA Finals champion, career-high singles ranking of world No. 2, Olympic flag-bearer at Paris 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Coco Gauff?
Born on 13 March 2004, Coco Gauff is in her early twenties as of 2026.
How many Grand Slam titles has Coco Gauff won?
Two singles titles — the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open — both against Aryna Sabalenka in the final, plus a Grand Slam doubles title at the 2024 French Open.
Has Coco Gauff won Wimbledon?
Not yet — her best result there is a semifinal appearance in 2026, her most successful Wimbledon run to date.
What is Coco Gauff’s highest WTA ranking?
A career-high singles ranking of world No. 2, reached in June 2024.
Who coaches Coco Gauff?
Jean-Christophe Faurel has coached her since 2023.