At the 2024 Wuhan Open, Coco Gauff reflected on the importance of having her family around during competitions, specifically mentioning her mother, Candi, as her biggest fan. Still, it’s her father, Corey Gauff, who has often delivered emotional and impactful encouragement at pivotal moments in her career. One notable instance was during the 2019 Linz Open final when his courtside pep talk helped a then 15-year-old Coco claim her first WTA title. His advice to “walk to the finish line” helped her stay calm and ultimately defeat former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Fast forward to 2025, and Corey has stepped in again during another tough stretch in Coco’s career. Despite a strong showing at the Australian Open where she reached the quarterfinals, Gauff has since struggled to regain consistent form. She exited early from four consecutive tournaments—Qatar Open, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami. Her biggest on-court issue this season has been her serve, particularly an alarming number of double faults, totaling over 120 so far—the most on the WTA Tour. A recent quarterfinal loss at the Stuttgart Open to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini added to her woes. It also marked the second year in a row Gauff’s run at this event ended at the same stage, having lost to Marta Kostyuk in 2024.
In a moment of personal encouragement, Gauff received a thoughtful Easter gift from her father. She shared an Instagram story on Sunday featuring a bouquet, packs of Kinder Joy, and a heartfelt note. The message read: “Happy Easter, Your work will pay off. God got you and so do I. Love, Dad.” Deeply moved, Coco reacted emotionally with the message, “my dad is the best.”
This wasn’t the first time Corey Gauff had lifted his daughter’s spirits. Back in 2023, after Coco’s early exit at Wimbledon—losing in the first round to Sofia Kenin—she went on to win the US Open just two months later. Her triumph at Flushing Meadows made her the first American teenager since Serena Williams in 1999 to win the tournament. In 2024, she returned to Wimbledon with renewed energy, reaching the fourth round and reflecting on how much she’d grown since that tough loss the previous year.
Gauff had spoken openly about the emotional struggles that followed that Wimbledon defeat, describing it as a “dark place.” She later shared that she was grateful for how the experience pushed her to become a better player. “A bad moment doesn’t last forever,” she had noted.
In response to Coco’s introspective comments, Corey shared his own reflections in an Instagram post, emphasizing the importance of growth and resilience. He reminded her that life is a mix of highs and lows and encouraged her not to dwell on tough times. He wrote, “If not for the rainy days, would you appreciate the sunny ones?” He continued, “This is what growth looks like… If you try to do the right things every day, you will improve and have success.”
Such words can be a powerful source of motivation. Now, as Coco looks to regain her rhythm on the court, her father’s continued emotional support might just be the spark she needs to turn her season around.