On a breezy Tuesday evening in South Florida, the air hums with the familiar rhythm of tennis balls bouncing off well-worn courts. At Pompey Park in Delray Beach, a place steeped in history and heart, Coco Gauff stands surrounded by the echoes of her childhood. The world knows her as a Grand Slam champion, the highest-paid female athlete according to recent rankings, and a global superstar who’s graced red carpets from the Oscars to Miami’s elite events. Yet here, in this unassuming park, she’s still the local girl—Ms. Odom’s granddaughter—whose roots run as deep as the community that raised her.
Coco Gauff’s journey to tennis stardom is a story of talent, tenacity, and the unbreakable ties to her origins. It’s a tale that begins not with a silver spoon but with the sweat and spirit of a family determined to see her soar. Her grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, a trailblazer in her own right, looms large in this narrative. As the first Black student to integrate a public school in Delray Beach during the Civil Rights era, Odom faced down adversity with a quiet strength that would later echo in her granddaughter’s resolve. A stage-four lung cancer survivor, she’s more than a figure of inspiration—she’s a living lesson in resilience, one Coco carries onto every court she graces.
Pompey Park itself is more than just a backdrop; it’s a cornerstone of Coco’s development. These public courts, weathered by time and countless dreams, were where she first gripped a racket with purpose. As a kid, she’d spend endless hours here, her father Corey—a constant presence—by her side, coaching and cheering. Her mother, Candi, and grandmother pitched in too, organizing teams, sorting uniforms, and fostering a sense of community that Coco still cherishes. “My grandmother, my mom, my dad all helped out,” Coco has said, reflecting on those early days. “It’s just one of those things, like I want to help, too.” Even after her breakout moment at Wimbledon in 2019, when she stunned the world as a 15-year-old qualifier, locals could still spot her honing her craft on these same courts, a testament to her grounded nature.
Now, at 21, Coco’s life is a whirlwind of contrasts. Just weeks ago, she strutted the Oscars red carpet, a Rolex gleaming on her wrist, embodying the pinnacle of fame and fortune. Days later, she’s back at Pompey Park, reconnecting with the simplicity that shaped her. This duality is on full display as she prepares for the Miami Open, a tournament just down the road from her hometown. It’s a time of year that lays bare her dual existence: the global icon and the hometown hero. Here, she’s not just Coco Gauff, the world No. 3 with a U.S. Open title under her belt—she’s the girl who grew up hitting balls against the same chain-link fence that still surrounds the park.
Her recent dominance at the Miami Open, where she crushed fellow American Sofia Kenin 6-0, 6-0 in a mere 47 minutes, underscores her evolution. Yet Coco remains humble, acknowledging the ebb and flow of the game. “I was definitely playing well today, and maybe she wasn’t playing her peak great tennis,” she told reporters after the match. It’s this blend of confidence and candor that keeps her relatable, even as her star continues to rise.
Beyond the court, Coco’s connection to Pompey Park has taken on new meaning. Her latest venture with New Balance, the Coco Delray sneaker, launched in celebration of her 21st birthday, pays homage to her roots. The campaign features her grandmother’s voice narrating a heartfelt tribute to Delray Beach, weaving together stories of Coco’s childhood and the community spaces that fueled her dreams. Priced at $110, the shoe aims to make tennis more accessible—a nod to the public courts that gave her a start. “It’s more than just a shoe,” Coco has said, emphasizing its cultural impact.
As the sun dips below the horizon at Pompey Park, Coco lingers, chatting with kids who now dream as she once did. Her father Corey is nearby, a steady anchor amid her skyrocketing fame. This is where it all began—where a little girl with a racket became a champion, carrying her grandmother’s lessons and her hometown’s spirit to every corner of the world. For Coco Gauff, tennis is more than a sport; it’s a legacy, etched in the lines of Pompey Park and the love of a family that refuses to let her forget where she’s from.
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