On June 7, 2025, Coco Gauff etched her name into tennis history by clinching her first French Open title, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 battle on the red clay of Roland Garros. The victory marked her second Grand Slam singles title, following her 2023 US Open triumph, and made her the first American woman since Serena Williams in 2015 to conquer the Paris clay. While the 21-year-old star celebrated with her team and family on Court Philippe-Chatrier, her father, Corey Gauff, was notably absent from the player’s box, adhering to a superstition that has become a hallmark of Coco’s major victories. In a heartfelt revelation, Corey shared where he watched his daughter’s historic moment and why he chose to stay out of sight.
Corey, a former college basketball player at Georgia State University, has been a cornerstone of Coco’s journey since she picked up a tennis racket at age six. “I was just proud of her,” he said, reflecting on the emotional weight of her French Open win compared to her US Open victory. “The US Open felt like a tremendous burden was being lifted because she had come close so many times and she really wanted to do it in her teenage years. This time, it was more confirmation of playing, that she’s doing the right work on a daily basis, and having the right attitude.” His words capture the pride of a father who has watched his daughter evolve from a prodigious talent into a two-time Grand Slam champion.
Unlike most parents in the player’s box, Corey opts for a unique vantage point during Coco’s matches to manage his nerves. “I kinda move around behind the scenes,” he explained. “I try to find a quiet corner where I can look at it on my iPad, and then I make notes and sometimes I’m texting her, and texting the coaches if I see something I think they can’t see.” During the French Open final, Corey found himself in the transportation area of the stadium, watching on his iPad with the volume muted or gospel music playing through his AirPods to stay calm. “I might be listening to gospel music, hype music, just trying to take my mind mentally off of the moment, ’cause then I get nervous and I feel like she might feel my nervousness,” he told reporters, highlighting his belief that his emotions could influence Coco’s performance.
This superstition stems from Coco’s request after a first-round loss at Wimbledon in 2023, where she found Corey’s animated reactions distracting. “He has some reactions where if I look in the box I want positivity and I will see him go like this [head in hand] or [slap his thigh],” Coco said with a laugh. “So after Wimbledon, I was like, ‘Okay dad, we both agreed that you shouldn’t sit in the box.’” Since then, Corey has stayed away from the stands, a decision that coincided with Coco’s US Open win and now her French Open triumph. “I’m not superstitious at all, he’s incredibly superstitious,” Coco added, noting that Wimbledon was likely the last time he’d be seen in her box.
The final itself was a testament to Coco’s growth. After dropping a tight first set, she dominated the second and held firm in a tense third, showcasing her athleticism and mental fortitude against Sabalenka’s power. As match point approached, Corey began walking toward the player’s box but turned back when Coco lost the point. “I’m not moving until it’s over!” he recalled, chuckling. When victory was sealed, he rushed to join Coco, her mother Candi, and coaches Matt Daly and Jean-Christophe Faurel, wiping the clay off her face with a towel in a tender fatherly gesture. “I don’t know where he got the towel from,” Coco joked. “He must have known that it was going to happen.”
Corey’s lion-emblazoned shirt, worn during the final, symbolized Coco’s strength. “I bought the lion shirt initially because I’m a Leo,” he said. “And then I told Candi before the show, I said, ‘Look, they bringing a tiger, so we going to have to bring a lion.’” The shirt became a poignant emblem of Coco’s fierce spirit, echoing her childhood dream of emulating Serena Williams, whom Corey introduced her to as the “GOAT” during the 2010 Australian Open.
Coco’s triumph, celebrated by luminaries like Barack and Michelle Obama, marked her as the youngest woman since Maria Sharapova in 2006 to win major titles on multiple surfaces. “I’d like to thank my parents,” Coco said post-match. “You guys have done a lot for me, from washing my clothes to keeping me grounded and giving me the belief that I can do it.” As she prepares for Wimbledon, with Corey likely watching from a quiet corner, their bond remains the heartbeat of her success, proving that even from the shadows, a father’s love shines brightly.
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