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via Reuters

via Reuters

Rising American tennis star Coco Gauff hit the headlines for the first time when she defeated Venus Williams in her first-round match at the 2019 Wimbledon. The images of people cheering for the then 15-year-old tennis prodigy went viral. The center of attraction in those images was the sports bar that Coco’s father owns. However, the same place became the epicenter of a controversy later that year.

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It happened when Coco Gauff’s father got a legal challenge for the bar. Surprisingly, the challenge was from his own mother. Here’s what happened.

When Corey Gauff’s mother sued him

Paradise Sports Lounge in Delray Beach was the place where people enjoyed the local girl Coco Gauff’s victory against Venus Williams. Later, her father’s mother, Dr. Deborah Wright, filed a case against her son because of an ownership dispute. According to Dr. Deborah Wright, Corey Gauff forged documents to make himself the manager and force her aside.

The lady also claimed that she invested roughly $500,000 of her retirement money in the sports lounge. Further, Wright had demanded damages of over $15000 and sole ownership of the bar. On the other hand, Corey Gauff rejected the allegations and said that his mother has no proof of the forgery.

Read more: ‘Tennis Is Secondary’ – Mother’s Stringer Rule Once to a Home-Schooled Coco Gauff About Education Amidst Huge Fan Love

Since then, Coco Gauff has come a long way in her tennis career. The 18-year-old had a great season this year and broke through to the top 10 of WTA rankings.

Coco Gauff didn’t achieve her success overnight

Whenever a young player succeeds, people end up calling them a prodigy or someone born with god’s gift. However, the 18-year-old’s father is not a big fan of this kind of praise. Corey Gauff once said that his daughter’s success is not an accident.

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He further said that Coco has worked hard to reach where she is today. While one might say that she achieved overnight popularity after defeating Venus Williams, she didn’t achieve her success overnight.

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Watch this story: Hilarious Meaning of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Serena Williams on Urban Dictionary! 

Gauff didn’t stop after her victory against Venus. She became the youngest tennis player to win a WTA tournament when she won the Linz Open. Currently, Gauff is among the brightest future prospects in American tennis. Having the experience of playing in a Grand Slam final, she doesn’t seem too distant from her first Major title.