Few people in the world have been able to make more than $800,000 in prize money from playing competitive sport before their 16th birthday. However, Coco Gauff is one of the few who have been able to do so.
The American teenager has been a revelation on the tour over the past year. Triggering a sharp rise in both fans and endorsements. Currently ranked 52nd in the world, she is the only player under the age of 17 in the top 100. As a junior, she proclaimed that she wanted to be ‘the best in the world’ in tennis and is currently on the right trajectory to rise to the top in only a matter of time.
“I first meet Cori when she was 10 at my academy,” coach Patrick Mouratoglou once told Ubitennis.
“She’s very special and has the two major qualities that you cannot teach. First of all, she is a great competitor. That is something very difficult to teach. Secondly, she’s a natural athlete. You can build (a player) physically, but natural athleticism is something you have or don’t have.’
“She’s a hard worker, which is something not everybody has and this is very important to reach the top of the game.” He added.
Gauff is undoubtedly fast becoming a household name and here are five things you need to know about the rising star.
1. Sport is in her blood
Born in Florida on March 13th 2004, Gauff’s parents were both keen athletes. Her father Corey played basketball at Golden State University. Meanwhile, her mother, Candi, excelled in Track and Field whilst at Florida State University. Gauff played both of those sports growing up, but it was talent and love for tennis that steered her away from them.
“I did basketball and track (athletics). Those were my favourite besides tennis. I was the only girl on the all-boys team for basketball. Which I actually kind of liked. On the track I did 800 meters and the 4x400M relay.” She told Ubitennis in 2019.
“Obviously tennis would be the best.”
2. She already has an extensive endorsement portfolio
In 2019 Forbes magazine estimated that the teenager will make $1 million in endorsements alone. She has already scored deals with shoe brand New Balance, racket manufacturer Head and prestigious Italian pasta company Barilla. Barilla are also known for their extensive work with 20-time grand slam champion Roger Federer.
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British newspaper The Telegraph has projected Gauff’s earnings to be in the range of £20 million before she reaches her twenties. This is according to Rob Mills, who is the chief executive of sport and entertainment measurement company Turnstile Sport.
“She is obviously young and you’ve got to see that consistency coming through, but if you look at say (Naomi) Osaka’s deals, we’re in the 8.5million US dollars territory. She’s going to be very quickly in that range very conceivably in the next 12 to 24 months. That’s only the sports brand category.” Mills predicts.
3. A member of Federer’s Team8
Managing the financial side of her career is Alessandro Barel Di Sant Albanoof from the agency Team8. A company co-founded by Federer and his agent Tony Godsick. The partnership has enabled the American to learn from and even mirror the Swiss maestro when it comes to the world of tennis. Both on the court and dealing with the financial side.
“Having insight on what Roger does definitely helps and while I don’t model him exactly on every point, I model some routines after him and how he handles himself,” Gauff told Forbes.com last month. “Being close to Serena (Williams) and close to Roger is really a plus for me and an advantage I have to take care of.”
The two have held numerous exchanges. One of their earliest dates back to the 2018 Australian Open where Gauff lost her opening match in the junior tournament. Following the defeat, she received some valuable advice from Federer.
“He told me not to focus too much on the pressure or the outside drama. He gave me some perspective,” Gauff recalled.
“Now, I try to enjoy the tennis and I barely think of that fist-round loss two years later.”
4. A big time player in grand slams
Despite her young age, Gauff has already exceeded expectations in the major tournaments. Her rise on the tour started last summer when she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon as a qualifier before losing to eventual champion Simona Halep. Becoming the youngest player to do so since Jennifer Capriati in 1991.
Wimbledon wasn’t just a one-off for the American. She also managed to reach the last 32 at both the US Open and Australian Open before her 16th birthday. Reaching the third round or better at her first three grand slam appearances. A milestone that both of the Williams sisters were unable to do.
It was at this year’s Australian Open where Gauff recorded her most high-profile win when she downed the then world No.4 and defending champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets. Becoming the youngest woman to score a win over a top-five player in a grand slam since Jennifer Capriati upset world No.3 Gabriela Sabatini in the quarter-finals of the 1991 US Open.
“I’m doing well right now at 15, [but] I still have so much I feel like I can get better at. I don’t even think this is close to a peak for me.” She told reporters in January.
So far in her career, Gauff has won eight grand slam main draw matches. Three at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open, as well as two at the US Open. She is just the third player in the past 30 years to have earned eight grand slam wins before turning 16.
5. Already a WTA Champion
In October 2019 Gauff won the most prestigious title in her blossoming career to date. Securing entry into the main draw of the Linz Open as a lucky loser, she stunned top seed Kiki Bertens and Andrea Petkovic en route to her maiden WTA final. Standing in her way was former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who she downed 6-3, 1-6, 6-2, to win her first WTA title.
“This was definitely not on the calendar at the beginning of the year, because I didn’t think I’d have a chance to get in, and now I’m the champion.“ She commented on her triumph.
“It’s just insane that I got in as a lucky loser and now I’m the champion. My dad told me when I got in, before the first main‑draw match, he said: ‘You can’t lose twice in the same tournament.’ I’m sure he never thought it would come this far, to being the champion, but I guess he was right.”
Gauff is the youngest WTA champion since Nicole Vaidisova back in 2004. Furthermore, she is the youngest American WTA champion since 1991. Both Serena and Venus were 17 when they won their first trophy on the tour.
