From a young age, Coco Gauff’s ambition was clear: to be the best in the world. She began playing at six and trained with a pro by seven. By 10 years old, she was honing her skills at the prestigious Mouratoglou Academy. Her breakout moment came at 15 when she stunned Venus Williams at Wimbledon. At 18, she reached the French Open finals, and at 19, she won her first Grand Slam at the U.S. Open. And the journey wasn’t a lonely one. As Coco, at 20, after winning the 2024 China Open said, “It’s great to have my mom. She’s my biggest fan for sure.” Through it all, her mother, Candi, was her rock, quitting her job to homeschool Coco and inspiring her to advocate for mental health awareness. Candi couldn’t be prouder of her daughter’s achievements. What’s on her mind as she turns 21?

The mother-daughter duo of Coco and her mother, Candi, is truly one to watch. On March 13, Coco celebrated her 21st birthday, a big deal indeed! Candi, who is Coco’s “favorite travel buddy,” marked the occasion with a heartfelt Instagram post filled with photos of Coco from her tours and personal life. She wrote,

“You made me a mom!! One of the biggest blessings and honor a woman can have. Twenty-one years ago, my life changed and Corey and I started our family. From the time you were born, I knew you were destined for greatness! Gifted, talented, and beautiful! A great big sister, a wonderful daughter, and a global change maker. I love you! Happy birthday!” This message is truly heartwarming.

On the tennis front, Coco Gauff has been on fire. She reached the World No. 3 spot and won titles like the WTA Finals. She also led Team USA to victory in the United Cup, though she faced a setback at the 2025 Australian Open. Throughout these achievements, Candi has been a constant source of support and celebration. Most recently, at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Candi celebrated Coco’s victory against Moyuka Uchijima. The moment was captured by the Tennis Channel and reshared by Candi with a fire emoji on her IG story!

But Coco’s impact extends far beyond the court. She recently donated $100,000 to the UNCF to support students from historically Black colleges and universities who play competitive tennis through the Coco Gauff Scholarship Program. Coco said that supporting UNCF means a lot to her, as she understands the impact of seeing people who look like her thriving in both sports and education. Her mom couldn’t be prouder, sharing the UNCF’s post with four heart emojis on her Instagram story.

Clearly, the love in the Gauff family is unparalleled. While Candi constantly praises Coco’s feats, the 21-year-old couldn’t be more grateful.

Coco gives a heartwarming shout-out to her mom on Women’s Day

Coco Gauff broke her losing streak in style at the 2025 Indian Wells Open, defeating Moyuka Uchijima in a nail-biting match on International Women’s Day, March 8. Despite committing 74 unforced errors, including 21 double faults, Coco’s determination paid off with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4) win. She admitted, “It wasn’t my best tennis at all today, just happy to get through. It’s been a rough couple of weeks, so I am just happy to get a win on the court.”

On the other hand, Coco couldn’t help but express her gratitude for the strong women in her life – her mother. She gave a heartfelt shout-out to Candi, saying, “My mom, she’s been rocking with me. I don’t know where she went (looking at the crowd), but she’s been rocking with me the past few weeks.” Candi has been Coco’s rock, accompanying her at the 97th Academy Awards and spending Valentines’ Day with her daughter. The two have been a wholesome duo!

Coco also praised her grandmother, Yvonne Odom, a Stage 4 lung cancer survivor who integrated schools during the civil rights era. Coco noted, “She’s the reason why I’m so vocal on certain issues, and you know why I will always use tennis as my platform to fight for equality. So shout out to my mom and my grandma.” After Coco’s shout out, Candi shared the post-match clip on her Instagram story, writing, “@cocogauff thank you!!! 🙏🏾”

While Gauff’s campaign at Indian Wells eventually ended with a tough loss to Belinda Bencic, her spirit remains unbroken. Not to forget, her mother continues to be her biggest supporter, celebrating each win and encouraging her through tough times. With this support, do you think Coco will come back stronger in Miami? Share your thoughts in the comments below!