The Miami Open, a sun-soaked showcase of tennis brilliance, delivered a gut punch to Coco Gauff in 2025. The world No. 3, a hometown hero born in Atlanta but raised in Delray Beach, Florida, entered the tournament with high hopes, only to face a shocking defeat in the fourth round. Poland’s Magda Linette, ranked 33 spots below her, staged a stunning upset, ousting Gauff 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on the Hard Rock Stadium courts. The loss stung deeply for the 21-year-old, who admitted, “It wasn’t great today. It hasn’t been the last few weeks—I’m trying to figure that out.” Yet, amid the heartbreak, Gauff found solace off the court, embarking on romantic escapades with her boyfriend, Jalen Sera, that lit up Miami’s vibrant scene and warmed the hearts of fans.
The match against Linette was a rollercoaster. Gauff, fresh off a dominant 6-0, 6-0 rout of Sofia Kenin and a gritty win over Maria Sakkari, started strong, breaking early to claim the first set 6-3. But Linette, a seasoned competitor, refused to buckle. She exploited Gauff’s mounting errors—43 unforced mistakes by match’s end—and leveled the score with a 6-4 second set. The decider was a tense affair, with both players trading blows until Linette seized control, clinching the biggest scalp of her career. Gauff, visibly frustrated, later reflected, “Just one of those days when I felt awful in everything on the court.” For Linette, it was a triumph that echoed her growing prowess, setting her up for a quarterfinal clash with either Naomi Osaka or Jasmine Paolini.
Gauff’s 2025 season had already been a mixed bag. After a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open, where she fell to Paula Badosa, and early exits in Qatar and Dubai, her Miami campaign was meant to be a redemption arc. She’d dazzled earlier, not dropping a single game against Kenin, with her family—mother Candi, brothers Codey and Cameron—and Sera cheering from the stands. But the Linette loss exposed cracks in her game, a reminder of the relentless pressure on a player once hailed as Serena Williams’ heir. “I’m honestly not happy with the past few results, but it’s just one of those things,” Gauff said, her candor revealing both vulnerability and resolve.
Yet, Miami’s magic offered a reprieve. Stepping away from the court, Gauff leaned into the city’s pulse, sharing precious moments with Sera, an Atlanta-based musician and actor whose quiet support has been her anchor. The couple, who’ve kept their romance largely private since spring 2023, let fans peek into their world through playful social media exchanges. Sera posted a carousel of Miami memories—a tennis ball from the tournament, a boat ride under palm-fringed skies, and a cozy moment with cats at a beach club—captioned with a nod to “Soflooo” vibes. Gauff chimed in with a cheeky “flawdaaa,” her Gen Z wit sparking smiles. “He’s there when I need him most,” Gauff has said of Sera, crediting his non-tennis perspective for grounding her during turbulent times.
Their bond, forged through small gestures and big moments, has become a fan favorite. From Sera’s “Happy birthdayyyy” message on Gauff’s 21st to his swooning over her Oscars gown—“THE star. Like, come on man”—their connection radiates authenticity. In Miami, they wandered the city’s eclectic corners, savoring downtime that doubled as a reset. A photo of them on a boat, the moon glinting off the water, captured a fleeting escape from the grind of professional sports. Gauff, who once told Time she values having “someone to talk to who is not involved in tennis at all,” seemed to find exactly that in Sera’s easygoing presence.
As Gauff looks to the clay season, the Miami loss lingers but doesn’t define her. Her 2024 ended on a high—titles in Beijing and the WTA Finals in Riyadh—so the hunger to reclaim her spark burns bright. With Sera by her side, offering a “cozyyy” refuge from the spotlight, Gauff’s journey feels as much about love as it does about tennis. Miami, for all its sting, reminded her of what endures: the support of a partner who sees her not just as a champion, but as Coco, the woman navigating life’s highs and lows with grace.