Coco Gauff’s father and ex-coach was absent from the Roland Garros stands as his daughter won her maiden French Open title. Corey Gauff was Coco’s main coach until Wimbledon 2023, when he stepped back in favor of Pere Riba, who guided her until the end of that season.
At the time, Gauff indicated that her Dad’s negative body language in the player’s box was a distraction, and since then, Corey has not been seen supporting the 21-year-old from the stands. Her mother, Candi, however, is a visible presence at her matches, and she could be seen at Roland Garros during the French Open final praying and urging her daughter on.
After the match, both Corey and Candi were interviewed by The Bleacher Report’s YouTube channel, and Corey Gauff was asked directly how he passed the time while Coco was putting the final touches to her 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 victory over World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Corey answered (from 0.35):
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"I kinda move around behind the scenes. I try to find quiet corner where I can look at it on my iPad, and then I make notes and sometimes I'm texting her, and texting the coaches if I see something I think they can't see."
Having asked her father not to sit in the player's box in 2023, Coco's career has flourished. She won the US Open that year and has now captured a second Grand Slam title without her dad being in the crowd to cheer her on.
Coco Gauff's second Major title at 21 signals more Grand Slam victories to come
Coco Gauff's stunning victory over an out-of-sorts Aryna Sabalenka in Paris demonstrates that the American has a game adaptable to all surfaces. Having burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old, beating Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019, Gauff now has two Major titles to her name, on clay and hard court.
Sabalenka generated some controversy after the match, suggesting that her 70 unforced errors, caused by windy conditions, handed Gauff the win. She also said that Iga Swiatek would have beaten Gauff had she played her in the final. Gauff was quick to answer back at the post-match press conference:
"I mean, I don't agree with that. I'm here sitting here [as the champion]. No shade to Iga or anything, but last time I played her I won in straight sets. I don't think that's a fair thing to say, because anything can really happen."
Coco Gauff now goes on to the year's next Major, at Wimbledon in July. After her heroics in Paris, she'll be confident of improving on her three fourth-round appearances at the All-England Club.
