At just 15 years old, she burst onto the scene by becoming the youngest qualifier in the history of the Wimbledon Championships. Over there, she went on to defeat Venus Williams in the first round. Coco Gauff became an overnight sensation after that incredible, and guess what? That was just the start! She later on won the 2023 US Open at just the age of 19. What a story this has been for this young American tennis star. Recently, she defeated Canada’s Leylah Fernandez to reach the R16 of the AO for the third consecutive time in her career. During her post-match interview, Gauff was asked to share her thoughts about her rapid rise and how she managed to stay so humble.

She’s only 20 years old now, and she has already become the highest-paid woman athlete in the world, according to Forbes Magazine. How does she manage to stay so grounded, though? Well, in reply to this question, Coco Gauff said, “Well, I definitely think my community I grew up in D Beach and you know I’ve been involved in my community volunteering. Actually, my grandma sent me one of my volunteer cards when I was like 10 years old, and like I grew up in the church. So I think when you just grown up in the community like that, you have no choice but to keep it grounded.”

For those who are unaware, Coco Gauff is a devout Christian, and she attends the Saint John Missionary Baptist Church in Florida. Not only that, she is also a member of the choir there and has mentioned that her faith is an important part of her life. So, the Church has been an integral part of her life. Further in that on-court interview following her 6-4,6-2 win over Fernandez, the American youngster said, “The people I meet everyday you realize that you know tennis feels so high stakes but it’s really not and I’m  so lucky to be able to do also get paid while doing it and also be able to use that platform to give back to others.“

She further went on to reveal that the biggest thing that she learned last year was just “not to take anything for granted and just realize that this time is going to go by so fast.” All she wants now is to enjoy her journey and contribute as much as she can to the community. We have often seen Coco Gauff taking a strong stand on multiple social issues either through her social media accounts or by taking part in the rallies actively. Who has been the real inspiration for Gauff in this, though?

Coco Gauff has now become the source of inspiration to all the kids back in Delray Beach. However, her biggest inspiration has always been her grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom. 

Coco Gauff says her grandmother is the “sole reason” why she uses her platform for speaking out on important topics

There is an interesting story surrounding Yvonne Lee Odom. Coco Gauff’s grandmother was the first Black student at Delray Beach’s Seacrest High School. Odom has battled even bigger challenges than those brought by a sport. In 1961, during a time of segregation and prejudice. She was banned from a bus carrying white pupils, and teachers even asked her not to use the same loos. Not only that, but even after being a sprinter and captain of her old school’s basketball team, Yvonne Odom Lee was cruelly denied the chance to play at Seacrest simply because she was Black. It had then shattered her dream of a college sports scholarship.

Coco Gauff has heard all these stories while growing up and she has learned about her grandmother’s struggle in the early days. We often see Coco Gauff showing no hesitation in taking some bold steps on social issues. What’s the secret to her incredibly strong mentality? “She’s (grandmother) the sole, or one of the main, reasons why I use my platform the way that I do and why I feel so comfortable speaking out,” said Gauff in a previous interview.

Talking about all the hardships that her grandmother had to go through, she once said, “For her to go through what she did during that time [makes me think that] putting out a tweet or saying a speech is so easy compared to that. That’s why I have no problem doing the things that I do. She always reminds me that I’m a person first instead of an athlete.”

According to Gauff, it’s her grandmother who has taught her how to approach every situation with kindness and understanding, and perhaps she’s also one of the big reasons for her incredibly humble nature. She has often been seen reflecting her love for her grandma on social media. Do you think she can make her grandmother more proud by clinching her second major title in Melbourne?