As a nineteen year old, Coco Gauff stepped into the Arthur Ashe Stadium this August in New York City. A roaring crowd of people from all over the world uplifted her spirits and aided her in a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka. This three-set match granted Gauff her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open. 

Growing up, Gauff was homeschooled due to her primary focus on tennis. Gauff found inspiration from Venus and Serena Williams and aspired to become a professional player. She received training from professionals and gained new skills at the Mouratoglou Academy in France, run by Serena Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. Five years later, Gauff turned pro. Even with little experience in his daughter’s sport, Gauff’s father, Corey, became her head coach. The fifteen-year-old was Wimbledon’s youngest player to qualify for the Grand Slam. With the help of her father and previous training, Gauff beat Venus Williams in Wimbledon, which was a turning point in her professional career. However, once she caught the public eye, the young player began to feel the pressure which amplified her unforced errors and intensified her nerves. Last year, during the 2022 French Open, Gauff made it to the final round. Winning the match would have been Gauff’s first Grand Slam title, so she persevered throughout. However, her Polish opponent, Iga Swiatek, came out victorious. 

Once she changed her head coach to Pere Ribera, with Brad Gilbert as a consultant, Gauff’s mental game improved. With the help of her new coaches, focusing on an aspect of her playing that she hadn’t tapped into much before, she was successful in the 2023 US Open–winning her first Grand Slam. The immense amount of support from the American crowd helped Gauff secure her title. As a teen who struggles with the pressure of others, her story sheds light on what one can achieve when they work towards their goals and dreams. 

Information retrieved from the US Open tournament website.