Coco Gauff entered the 2024 Australian Open with high expectations, marking her first Grand Slam tournament as a Major champion after her breakthrough victory at the U.S. Open just four months prior. Gauff’s triumph in New York solidified her position as one of tennis’ brightest young stars, and now, all eyes are on her as she embarks on the Australian Open campaign with the aim of adding another title to her burgeoning career.
At just 19 years old, Gauff has already built an impressive résumé. Her win at the 2023 U.S. Open was a defining moment in her career, where she claimed her first Grand Slam title by defeating world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set thriller. It was her second appearance in a Major singles final, following her earlier attempt at the 2022 French Open. In that final at Roland Garros, Gauff fell short, losing to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in straight sets. Just a day later, Gauff also suffered defeat in the French Open doubles final alongside her compatriot Jessica Pegula. The pair lost to Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, a duo that had already claimed two French Open doubles titles.
Gauff’s victory at the U.S. Open marked her redemption from that difficult weekend in Paris, demonstrating the resilience and growth that she had developed over the course of the following 15 months. In the U.S. Open final, Gauff again faced adversity, dropping the first set 6-2 against Sabalenka. However, she refused to let history repeat itself, storming back to take the next two sets 6-3, 6-2, and securing her first Major title.
Reflecting on the differences between her French Open and U.S. Open experiences, Gauff credited her ability to stay calm and composed, a lesson she had learned the hard way after her previous defeat in Paris. A key factor in her mental preparation for the U.S. Open final was the support she received from her boyfriend, though she has kept his identity private. In the press conference following her victory, Gauff explained how her boyfriend played a pivotal role in helping her stay grounded and avoid the overwhelming pressure she had felt in her first Major final.
“Honestly, I didn’t have any of those visions [of winning] till last night. You know, I thought about it, but I told myself to get it out of my head, because that’s what I did at [the] French [Open],” Gauff said, referencing how her desire to win in Paris had clouded her focus. “I was envisioning, you know, what would happen if I would win. I think I wanted it too much.”
Instead of letting her mind run away with thoughts of victory, Gauff found a way to keep herself calm and present. “Last night, I started a little bit, but honestly, I just called my boyfriend, and I told him: ‘Let’s talk until it’s time to go to sleep.’ So we spoke until 1:00 a.m., and then I went to sleep,” she revealed. It was a subtle but significant moment that underscored the importance of emotional support in the high-pressure world of professional tennis.
Though she has kept her relationship private, this was not the first time Gauff had mentioned her boyfriend in public. During an episode of the Tennis Channel’s “Warm & Fuzzy,” which aired in the summer of 2023, Gauff made a lighthearted reference to him. After the harpist Diana Rada played a piece of soft music during the show, host Michael Kosta asked Gauff how that type of music made her feel. “It makes you feel like you want to be in love,” Gauff responded with a laugh. When Kosta followed up with a question about her love life, Gauff responded, “It’s lifing,” before adding, “Yeah, it’s trending up.”
Her candid, albeit playful, remarks were followed by an embarrassed giggle, with Gauff exclaiming, “Oh God, I hope he doesn’t see this.” While she did not disclose his name, it was clear that her relationship had been a positive influence in her life, helping her maintain balance amid the pressures of her rising tennis career.
As Gauff prepares for the remainder of the 2024 Australian Open, she carries with her the lessons learned from both her victories and defeats. She has yet to advance past the fourth round in Melbourne, with her best showing coming in her first appearance in 2020 when she defeated Venus Williams and reigning champion Naomi Osaka before losing to eventual winner Sofia Kenin. Last year, Gauff fell in the fourth round again, this time to former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
This year, however, Gauff enters the tournament with a new level of confidence, having tasted Grand Slam glory and proving her ability to come back from difficult situations. Should she advance deep into the tournament, it’s likely that Gauff will once again lean on the support of her inner circle, including her boyfriend, whose presence helped her remain composed on the eve of her U.S. Open triumph.
As Gauff aims to call her boyfriend again on the night of January 27—the night before the Australian Open women’s singles final—her fans and supporters will be hoping that another deep run is in store, adding yet another chapter to her already impressive career.