“If sitting on top of the world was a person,” as Coco Gauff’s father once remarked, “his daughter would be lounging with a book in her hand!” This statement, shared by Corey Gauff on Instagram back in March, gave fans a glimpse into the world of the young tennis star who, despite being one of the best athletes in the world, enjoys quiet moments with a good book. At that time, Coco, then ranked World No. 3, was seen soaking up the sun and reading *Fourth Wing* by Rebecca Yarros, a novel that, according to Gauff, is full of “dragons.” The image perfectly captured the blend of her athletic energy and intellectual curiosity. Known for her competitive spirit, Coco has taken on a reading challenge this year, but with a fun twist—she’s not doing it alone.
In fact, Coco Gauff has turned her passion for reading into a friendly competition with someone very close to her—her rumored boyfriend, Jalen Sera. Over the weekend, as she prepared for her upcoming tournament at the ecotrans Ladies Open, the 20-year-old tennis sensation took a moment to chat with reporters about how the reading challenge began and how it’s shaping up.
It all started with Coco’s love for books, which she developed as a child. “I loved reading as a kid,” she said during a media session. “But as I got older, I kind of lost that love for reading, so I decided to bring it back.” With the pressures of her tennis career often taking center stage, Coco found that reading was the perfect escape and a way to decompress. However, it was her boyfriend, Jalen, who reignited her passion for books.
Jalen, who also shares a love of reading, proposed a challenge that involved setting a goal to read a certain number of books each year—one for each year. “My boyfriend has this thing where he reads as many books as the year we’re in,” Coco explained. “So in 2024, he plans to read 24 books, and last year, he read 23.” Inspired by this challenge, Coco decided to join in. “At first, I set a goal to read 12 books, one per month. But when he told me he was going for 24 books this year, I thought, ‘Wait, I’m going to do more!’” The competitive side of Coco, who is well-known for her fiery determination on the tennis court, kicked in. “I doubled my goal to 24 books to match his, and now, I’m racing to finish faster than him!”
As of now, Coco is clearly leading the race. “I’m two books ahead, so I’m winning right now,” she proudly shared, her competitive spirit evident even in a hobby that seems worlds apart from the intensity of tennis. This friendly rivalry has added a new layer to her personal life, showing fans a side of Coco that goes beyond her impressive career and her on-court triumphs.
To keep her followers updated, Coco has been sharing her progress on social media. Recently, she posted a screenshot of her reading progress on her official Instagram story, showing that she had already completed 12 of the 24 books in her challenge. “Halfway through my reading challenge this year,” she wrote, celebrating her milestone. In another post, she shared an additional screenshot of books she had completed, cheekily adding, “The other half of the books I’ve read so far this year that didn’t show in the last story picture. In case anyone cared, which you probably don’t lol, but still going to share.”
Despite her playful tone, it’s clear that Coco takes her reading challenge seriously and finds joy in it. Her love for books and her enthusiasm for the challenge is evident in every update. This isn’t the first time Gauff has shared her passion for reading with her fans. In fact, during World Book Day 2023, she tweeted a picture of her favorite books and asked her followers for recommendations. “In honor of #WorldBookDay, here are some of my favorite books! I love reading, so can you guys give me some book recommendations?” The post sparked a flood of suggestions, further fueling her love for reading.
For Coco, reading is more than just a hobby—it’s a way to find balance in her busy life. As a professional athlete, her days are often filled with intense training, travel, and competition. But books provide her with a form of relaxation and an opportunity to escape the pressures of the tennis world. “It’s a nice relief to have something outside of tennis, where I can just unwind and enjoy,” she said. “The best part is having someone like Jalen, who’s away from all the madness of my career, to share this experience with. We both have our own little world with this challenge, and it’s something that keeps us connected outside of everything else.”
This reading challenge has also become a way for Coco to maintain her competitive spirit in a more light-hearted setting. While she faces fierce competition on the tennis court, her reading rivalry with Jalen offers a different kind of challenge—one that’s about personal growth and mutual support. “It’s fun because we both encourage each other, but it’s also competitive, which I love,” Coco said. “We’re always trying to outdo each other, but in a good way.”
Beyond the playful competition with her boyfriend, Coco’s passion for reading reflects a deeper side of her personality. While she’s known for her fierce determination and maturity on the court, her love for literature shows her introspective side. As someone who is constantly striving for excellence, whether in her tennis career or her personal life, Coco finds joy in pursuing goals that challenge her in different ways.
And it’s not just books that Coco is passionate about—she has often expressed her love for the arts and culture. Whether it’s through her social media posts or interviews, she’s been open about how important it is for her to have hobbies and interests outside of tennis. “Being a professional athlete is a huge part of my life, but I don’t want it to be the only part,” she explained. “I want to be well-rounded, and reading is one way to keep learning, growing, and staying grounded.”
In addition to her reading challenge, Coco continues to make strides in her tennis career. After winning the 2023 US Open, she cemented her place as one of the sport’s most exciting young stars. As she works towards achieving even greater success on the court, it’s clear that Coco also understands the importance of maintaining balance in her life. Whether it’s through reading, spending time with loved ones, or pursuing other passions, she continues to show that there’s more to her than just tennis—and that her journey is about much more than victories and titles.
For now, Coco Gauff’s reading challenge remains a fun and personal pursuit, one that allows her to continue growing in different ways, both on and off the court. And as she continues to build on her career and relationships, fans can’t help but admire her ability to balance her passion for tennis with her love for books. It’s a reminder that even the most driven athletes need time for themselves and their personal interests—and for Coco, that includes a good book and a little friendly competition.