Coco Gauff has undoubtedly had an extraordinary career thus far, and at just 20 years old, she has already accomplished more than many players hope to achieve in an entire career. From winning the 2023 US Open to claiming her first WTA Finals title, Gauff has become a household name in the world of tennis. Her rise has been meteoric, and with a current ranking of World Number 3, behind only Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, her future in the sport looks incredibly promising.
While Gauff’s recent successes have brought her global recognition, those who have closely followed her career—including her former coach Sly Black—know that her talent was evident from an incredibly young age. Gauff’s story is one of early potential, hard work, and relentless determination, and her former coach has shared some truly remarkable stories of Gauff’s abilities when she was still a junior player, stories that have helped illustrate just how much potential she had from the outset.
### **A Glimpse of Potential: Gauff at Just Nine Years Old**
Gauff’s rise to the top may have seemed rapid to the public eye, especially after her stunning victory over Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019, when she was just 15 years old. That moment was a huge breakthrough in her career, capturing the world’s attention. She followed that up with her first WTA title later that same year in Linz, and by the age of 19, she had already become a Grand Slam champion. But according to Sly Black, her coach during her junior years, Gauff’s potential was clear long before she made waves on the WTA Tour.
In an interview with the ‘Coachlife – Tennis’ YouTube channel, Black recounted the early stages of Gauff’s tennis career, specifically highlighting some of her feats at the tender age of nine. Black recalls that one of Gauff’s earliest challenges was to test herself against older opponents in higher age groups, something that she embraced without hesitation. “The challenge for her was to try and see if she could play in a higher age group,” Black explained. “She would enter tournaments, local tournaments, and every three or four months she would enter a different age group.”
What stood out to Black was Gauff’s incredible resilience and ability to rise to the occasion each time she faced an older and more experienced group of players. “If she lost the first time at a higher age group, the next time she would win,” he added. Between the ages of 8 and 10, Gauff consistently triumphed in every event she entered, winning titles in various age groups. She claimed victories in the under-8, under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16, and under-18 categories, something that Black described as one of the most astonishing feats he had ever witnessed as a coach. “This is one of the most unbelievable achievements I have ever seen as a tennis coach. This girl was nine years old,” he said, reflecting on Gauff’s remarkable consistency and talent from such a young age.
This early success in multiple age groups showed that Gauff was not only a talent in her own right but also someone who could compete and excel against older players, laying the foundation for her eventual success on the global stage.
### **Breaking Records as a Junior**
As Gauff continued to rise through the ranks of junior tennis, she continued to break records that left her coaches and mentors in awe. One of her most impressive achievements came when she became the youngest national champion in US history. Sly Black recalled a pivotal moment in Gauff’s junior career when she was just 10 years old. Gauff had received a wildcard entry into the national 12s tournament, an event that would serve as an important benchmark for her progress in tennis. “This was a tournament we were getting ready for, as this tournament would be a good benchmark for where she should be and where she is at the moment,” Black shared.
Against all expectations, the young Gauff not only competed at a high level, but she went on to win the tournament, setting a record as the youngest player ever to claim a national title in the United States. “She ended up at that tournament becoming the youngest national champion in US history,” Black said. Her victory in this prestigious event was particularly notable because it broke the previous record held by Black’s own daughter, and by four or five months no less.
This achievement was a key moment in Gauff’s development, and it became clear to Black that she was a special talent. It was at that point that he began to fully recognize the scope of her potential. “It was then I told her Dad that I think we are on to something special,” Black remarked, illustrating just how significant Gauff’s success in junior tennis was and how early on it became clear that she had the ability to go far in her career.
### **From Junior Success to WTA Triumph**
As Gauff transitioned from the junior circuit to the professional ranks, her growth was steady, and her results began to speak for themselves. By 2019, Gauff had already earned worldwide recognition for her sensational victory over Venus Williams at Wimbledon, which marked the beginning of her breakout year. The win solidified her status as a player to watch, and she quickly became one of the youngest stars on the WTA Tour.
In the years that followed, Gauff’s game continued to mature. She claimed her first WTA singles title in Linz in 2019, and by 2021, she was a consistent fixture in the top rankings. However, it wasn’t until 2023 that Gauff truly began to dominate the tennis world, with her most notable accomplishment being her victory at the US Open. Her first Grand Slam title was a crowning achievement in her young career, further solidifying her status as one of the future stars of the sport.
In addition to her US Open triumph, Gauff also won her first WTA Finals title in 2023, cementing her place among the top players in the game. Currently ranked World No. 3, Gauff’s ascent continues, and she is widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in women’s tennis.
### **Gauff’s Legacy and Future**
What is particularly impressive about Coco Gauff’s rise is that, at just 20 years old, she has already achieved so much, and yet her potential is still untapped. Her early years in junior tennis provided the foundation for her success on the global stage, and her rapid progression as a professional player shows that she has the skills, work ethic, and mindset to become one of the all-time greats in the sport.
Looking forward, Gauff’s future seems incredibly bright. With her hard-hitting game, impressive court coverage, and mental toughness, she has all the tools needed to continue climbing the ranks and contend for more Grand Slam titles. Her remarkable achievements at such a young age are only the beginning, and fans can expect to see even more from this rising star in the years to come.
As her career unfolds, it will be exciting to watch Gauff build on her already remarkable legacy, and with the support of coaches like Sly Black, she will undoubtedly continue to break records and redefine what is possible in the world of tennis.