Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis prodigy and 2025 French Open champion, has taken the world by storm with her powerful game and inspiring presence. Behind her meteoric rise lies a family of athletes whose unwavering support and shared passion for sports have shaped her journey. From her parents, Corey and Candi Gauff, to her younger brothers, Codey and Cameron, the Gauff family’s story is one of sacrifice, athleticism, and unbreakable bonds. Their collective drive has propelled Coco to Grand Slam glory and made them a fixture in the tennis world, cheering her on from the stands at every major milestone.
Corey and Candi Gauff, married for over two decades, are the cornerstones of Coco’s success. Both hailing from Delray Beach, Florida, they bring their own athletic pedigrees to the family. Corey, born on August 16, 1971, was a standout basketball player at Georgia State University, where his court savvy honed his understanding of competitive sports. After a career as a healthcare executive, he made the bold decision to step away from his job to become Coco’s primary coach, despite having little prior tennis experience. “I think it helps parents when they have played as high as college or even pro,” Corey once told reporters. “You better understand the process, and so you don’t get too jittery about it. You kind of meet your kid where they are at.” His approach, inspired by studying tennis legends like Venus and Serena Williams, involved meticulous planning and finding top mentors, such as Patrick Mouratoglou, who praised Coco’s “determination, athleticism, and fighting spirit” when she trained at his academy at age 10.
Candi Gauff, born November 30, 1970, was a star heptathlete at Florida State University, where her 1991 performance remains one of the program’s best. A five-time Florida state champion in high school, she also excelled in gymnastics before focusing on track and field. “Candi was a very well-rounded athlete. She did the multi events, which meant she had to run, jump, hurdle, throw, all those things,” her former coach recalled. After working as an educator, Candi left her career to homeschool Coco, ensuring she could balance tennis with education. While Corey took the lead on coaching, Candi became the emotional anchor, offering a respite from the pressures of the court. “I try to back away on the court because too many voices can be a crowd,” Candi explained. “I’m the supportive mom, the one if she hurts or is crying that she can communicate with.” Her role as the family’s mediator has been crucial, especially during tense moments between Coco and Corey, as Coco noted: “When I turned 12 or 13, we used to argue, because he’d bring tennis home. Now we understand each other more.”
The Gauffs’ commitment to Coco’s dreams led to a life-changing move. When Coco was seven, the family relocated from Atlanta to Delray Beach, a hub for tennis training, moving in with Candi’s parents to save money. This sacrifice transformed them into a “no-income family” temporarily, as Corey quipped, but it paid off. Coco’s talent shone early, winning the “Little Mo” eight-and-under national championship at age eight, a moment that solidified her passion for tennis. “My dad told me I could do this when I was eight, and obviously, you never believe it,” Coco said after her historic 2019 Wimbledon win over Venus Williams. “Thank you guys, you believed in me from the beginning.”
Coco’s younger brothers, Codey and Cameron, are equally integral to her story. Born on September 21, 2007, Codey, now 17, is carving his own path in baseball, recently committing to Mizzou University for fall 2025. A high school athlete with Elite Squad Academy, he brings a confident edge that inspires Coco. “Codey always reminds me of the belief and kind of having that cockiness a little bit,” she told reporters. Cameron, born June 5, 2013, is the youngest at 12, a middle schooler who plays tennis, basketball, and football, and even designed a colorway for Coco’s New Balance sneaker in 2023. “Cameron always reminds me to just be joyful in the things I do,” Coco shared, highlighting how her brothers keep her grounded. After her 2023 US Open win, Coco tried FaceTiming them, laughing in her post-match interview: “I FaceTimed my brother, but he didn’t answer. He called me back, but by then the ceremony had started.” Videos of Codey and Cameron “running around the house going crazy” with pride underscored their tight-knit bond.
The Gauff family’s athletic roots extend beyond Corey and Candi. Candi’s father, Eddie “Red” Odom, played college football and minor league baseball, later founding the Delray Beach American Little League for Black youth. Her mother, Yvonne Lee Odom, made history as the first Black student to integrate Seacrest High School in South Palm Beach, inspiring Coco’s activism. “If she can do that with such grace, I can do my part,” Coco said in 2020, addressing racial injustice in Delray Beach.
“They’re just really my support system,” Coco said after a 2023 US Open quarterfinal, noting Corey’s scouting reports and Candi’s nurturing presence. Their sacrifices—leaving careers, moving cities, and prioritizing Coco’s dreams—have fueled her rise to world No. 2 and 10 WTA singles titles, including the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open. As Coco prepares for Wimbledon 2025, her family remains her rock, proving that behind every champion is a team of believers.
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