Tennis Sensation Coco Gauff Assumes Greater Control of Her Career as Her Parents Remain Her Strongest Supporters

As Coco Gauff continues her impressive tennis journey into the US Open semifinals, her parents, Candi and Corey Gauff, have taken a step back from the spotlight and coaching duties, allowing their daughter to flourish with a new coaching team.

Candi and Corey Gauff, the parents of tennis prodigy Coco Gauff, have been recognized for their exceptional parenting as their daughter, now 19, navigates her way through a highly competitive sport with remarkable maturity, thoughtfulness, and social awareness. While tennis often witnesses parental interference, controversies, and abuse, the Gauff family has stood out as a shining example of parental support and guidance.

What is particularly noteworthy is their recent decision to step out of the limelight. As Coco Gauff progressed through a transformative summer on hard courts, culminating in her journey to the US Open semifinals, the focus has shifted to her accomplishments and her newly assembled coaching team, led by Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert.

This shift is prominently evident when Riba, Gilbert, and her hitting partner and trainer occupy the front row of her coaching box during matches, providing audible encouragement and guidance to the young tennis sensation. However, what hasn’t garnered as much attention is the reduced visibility of Coco Gauff’s parents, who were previously a constant presence.

In her own words, Coco Gauff stated, “They’re just really my support system.” She acknowledged that her parents continue to assist with various aspects, including her attire and her father’s scouting reports for each match. However, she emphasized that her mother fulfills her maternal role, while her father maintains his presence as a dad, aside from the scouting report duties.

The Gauffs became more familiar figures in the world of tennis as Coco rose to prominence. Her father, a former college basketball player at Georgia State, introduced her to tennis at an early age and served as her primary coach throughout her journey. Her mother was an accomplished heptathlete at Florida State.

While they did enlist the help of several coaches over the years, the Gauff family primarily constituted “the team,” providing invaluable support as Coco embarked on a global tennis career. Unlike some unfortunate instances of parental overreach in women’s tennis, the Gauffs appeared to be grounded and supportive parents, ensuring their daughter’s readiness before pushing her into the limelight.

Coco’s demeanor and her approach to the sport underscored the positive influence of her upbringing. She expressed gratitude for her privileged position, highlighting the real-life struggles faced by many others, including those striving to feed their families or pay their bills. Her perspective led her to focus on enjoying her fortunate life rather than dwelling on the pressures or results associated with her tennis career.

It is a testament to her upbringing that she possesses such profound thoughts and articulates them eloquently, regardless of her status as a star athlete. Her words reflect the values instilled in her during her formative years.

In recent times, the Gauffs made a subtle yet significant decision to step back, particularly from the tennis side of Coco’s career. While they did not make any formal announcements, their absence during Coco’s victory in Cincinnati, just before the US Open, was notable. During matches at the US Open, Coco’s father has also chosen to sit away from the family, opting instead to take laps around Arthur Ashe Stadium due to his nervousness.

This seemingly minor change carries substantial meaning. While it is natural for fathers to feel nervous, coaches must remain composed. This adjustment indicates an understanding that, to elevate her game further, Coco needed to surround herself with a professional coaching team, allowing her parents to play their essential roles as parents.

Coco Gauff emphasized her parents’ role as advocates, especially when working with a newly formed team. She noted that her parents needed to explain what worked and didn’t work with her, as she learned to assert her preferences and provide feedback. Having been coached by her family for most of her life, she had grown accustomed to saying “yes” even when she wanted to say “no.”

Now, Coco has the freedom to express her preferences and make choices independently. She is no longer a budding prodigy but a mature young woman, poised to make a significant impact on her career and potentially achieve remarkable feats.

Navigating this transition on a global stage at such a young age can be challenging, but it appears that the Gauff family has embraced their new roles, allowing Coco to stand confidently on her own and potentially hoist a prestigious trophy in the near future.