Coco Gauff Drops Adorable Wish to Celebrate Boyfriend’s Birthday Amid Hectic Madrid Open Stint

Between juggling Grand Slams and brand collaborations, Coco Gauff has found a supportive romantic partner in a long-time friend. Aiming to keep her dating life out of the public eye, Gauff has kept mum on her boyfriend’s identity. But many an eagle-eyed fan has tried to figure it out. Jalen Sera, a musician from Atlanta, is the prime suspect. And a few days ago, Gauff threw all caution to the wind when she wished him a happy birthday!

The reigning US Open champion recently took to her Instagram story to share a celebratory post for her rumored boyfriend. Gauff shared a selfie of herself, Sera, and Sera’s twin brother, Terrence, taken by Sera as the three sat in a park. The caption read, “Happy birthday, @jalensera @iamterencejt 2️⃣2️⃣!!🎉🎉💙” Sera then reshared Gauff’s story to add to his compilation of birthday wishes, adding another page to their Instagram chronicles.

Gauff often hops into the comments section of Sera’s posts and vice versa. In fact, one of Sera’s first few posts was from his birthday: a selfie with his face covered in cake. And Coco Gauff wrote, “you like cake?” Since then, their’s has been a story of online banter. Although Gauff has never mentioned her boyfriend by name, she’s revealed how he helped center her before the 2023 US Open finals so that it wasn’t a repeat of the 2022 French Open final disaster.

Going up against Iga Swiatek in Paris, it was her first Grand Slam appearance, and all Gauff could think about was winning the title. However, because of all the overthinking, she ended up with the runner-up trophy. 2023 was supposed to be different. She needed it to be. “I told him, ‘Let’s talk until it’s time to go to sleep.’ So we spoke until 1:00 a.m., and then I went to sleep,” Gauff said in her post-match press conference after winning the US Open. The talk certainly helped!

As the 20-year-old wished Jalen Sera, this personal moment came right in the middle of another busy championship in Madrid. While it may not be a Grand Slam, Gauff’s boyfriend’s support seems to be a positive talisman. Gauff achieved a 6-0, 6-0 win against Arantxa Rus in the Madrid Open and is now set to play against Dayana Yastremska in the Round of 32, aiming for a good clay run in the build-up to the French Open and the Olympics.

Jalen Sera and Coco Gauff have reportedly known each other for a long time. The tennis sensation has shared before that her mom, Candi, was her boyfriend’s fourth-grade teacher and that he’s not involved in tennis. “This is my first real relationship,” Gauff told TIME Magazine in an interview. “To just have someone to talk to who is not involved in tennis at all gives me a fresh perspective.”

Jalen Sera’s birthday came during the Madrid Open, and Gauff’s? That was two Masters tournaments ago in Indian Wells. And that time around, Sera showed similar adoration for Gauff when she celebrated her 20th birthday. He shared a message that was tailor-made for the US Open champion.

Coco Gauff received an ‘Avatar’ wish from Jalen Sera as she crossed her teens

As the World No.3 made her run to the semifinals in the Indian Wells Masters, Coco Gauff played her Round of 16 match on her birthday. And the fact that it was on home soil made it all the more special for her. The American posted an update about turning 20 and how far she’s come in the past few years. Needless to say, many wishes came her way. But Sera’s wish stood out.

He commented, “Happy birthday, Ms. Waterbender,” and related the 20-year-old standing in water as a character from the cartoon series Avatar. Gauff responded with Avatar lingo, too, writing, “@jalensera Thank you, Mr. Earthbender!” 

Although the two are not outspoken about it, their online banter all but confirms a romance. When the time comes, maybe Coco Gauff will open up about her relationship with the 22-year-old artist. But for now, as both of them continue to support each other, she is celebrating his birthday!