As the tennis world gears up for the hardcourt swing of the 2025 US Open series, Coco Gauff, the dynamic world No. 2, has taken a moment to recharge in her native Florida, captivating fans with a stunning display of style and serenity. Following a shocking first-round exit at Wimbledon against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, the 21-year-old American tennis phenom traded her racket for a brown bikini, embracing the sun-drenched shores and waterways of her home state. On July 20, 2025, Gauff shared a vibrant Instagram post captioned, “Just a Floridian Pisces in her natural habitat 🧜🏾♀️🤍,” offering a glimpse into a rejuvenating getaway that included kayaking, swimming, and a playful dolphin sighting. The images, showcasing her toned physique and radiant confidence, have set social media alight, signaling her readiness to storm back onto the court.
Gauff’s Florida retreat came at a critical juncture. After a stellar clay season, where she clinched her second Grand Slam title at the 2025 French Open with a 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 victory over Aryna Sabalenka, her grass-court campaign faltered. Seeded second at Wimbledon, she fell 6-3 to Yastremska, marking her second early exit at the All England Club in three years. “You need to play lower and more aggressive than on clay, which was tough after such a quick transition,” Gauff reflected pre-tournament, acknowledging the challenges of adapting her game. Opting out of the Citi DC Open to focus on recovery, she returned to Delray Beach, where she grew up training on public courts—a connection immortalized in her New Balance “Coco Delray” sneakers. “This court… I’ve had countless practices here with my dad,” she said in a CBS Mornings interview, evoking nostalgia for her roots.
The Instagram post, featuring Gauff in an olive-green bikini by a lake and paddling through Florida’s lush waterways, drew widespread admiration. Fans flooded the comments, with one writing, “Queen Coco owning her natural habitat!” while another quipped, “With all the gators, I’d stick to pools!” Gauff’s boyfriend, Jalen Sera, joined the adventure, sharing his own photos of their sunset canoeing trip, though Gauff teased him for omitting her favorite sunset shot: “No sunset pic 🫣,” she commented, prompting Sera’s cheeky reply, “I’m gatekeeping the sights.” Their encounter with a dolphin added a thrilling twist, which Gauff shared with a laugh on her Instagram story, showcasing her playful side. “It was a bit wild, but I’m a Florida girl, so I’m used to it,” she said, embracing the unpredictability of her home state’s wildlife.
The getaway was more than a vacation—it was a mental reset for a player under immense pressure. Gauff’s 2025 season has been a whirlwind, with 10 singles titles, including the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, where she became the youngest champion since 2004, defeating Iga Świątek and Sabalenka en route to a record $4.8 million prize. Her French Open triumph, achieved after revamping her serve and forehand under coaches Matt Daly and Jean-Christophe Faurel, marked a bold evolution. “I didn’t think I could do it,” she admitted during the Roland Garros trophy ceremony, revealing her pre-final ritual of writing, “I will be the French Open champion 2025.” Yet, setbacks like her Miami Open fourth-round loss to Magda Linette, where she struggled with 12 double faults, underscored the ups and downs of her journey. “It wasn’t great today, but I’m figuring it out,” she said post-match.
As Gauff prepares for the National Bank Open in Montreal, where she’s the top seed, her Florida interlude has rekindled her fire. Confirmed for the US Open’s Fan Week on August 21 alongside Venus Williams and Andre Agassi, she’s poised to leverage her home crowd’s energy. “I love coming back to Florida; it’s the tennis capital of the world,” she once declared, a sentiment echoed in her latest post. The bikini-clad photos, blending athleticism with Gen Z flair, also highlighted her off-court influence, from her Miu Miu-New Balance collaboration to her role as a cultural voice against Florida’s book bans. As she dives into the US Open series, Gauff’s radiant confidence and hometown pride signal a player ready to reclaim her dominance, one powerful serve at a time.
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