At just 15, Coco Gauff stormed into the tennis world with a headline-making debut. She became the youngest player ever to qualify for Wimbledon and stunned Venus Williams in the first round. That match set the tone for what was to come. Gauff has had her share of wins and setbacks since then, but in 2023, she lifted the US Open trophy, her biggest moment so far. That US Open win was special, but so was the journey that followed. Gauff has stayed grounded thanks to two strong forces in her life: her faith and her family. Whether she’s on a winning streak or handling a tough loss, she turns to both for strength and perspective.
The Madrid Open final in 2025 was another big moment. Coco Gauff faced Aryna Sabalenka in what promised to be an exciting clash. The Belarusian came in as the top-ranked player in the world, while Gauff had just pulled off a big semifinal win over Iga Swiatek. The final began with Sabalenka taking full control. She won 17 points in a row to build serious momentum. But Gauff didn’t back down. She rallied hard and took a 5-3 lead in the second set. The 21-year-old American even saved six break points to stay alive at 5-all. Still, a late double fault gave Sabalenka the edge. The Belarusian stayed calm in her sixth final of 2025 and added Madrid to her list of titles this year, which already included Brisbane and Miami.
Despite the loss, Gauff’s overall record in finals is impressive. She has reached 11 finals on the WTA Tour and lost only twice—once to Swiatek at the French Open in 2022, and now to Sabalenka in Madrid. The other nine? All wins. So it made sense when Gauff showed maturity and a sense of perspective about finishing second to the world No. 1.
She took to Instagram to share her feelings with fans. “thank you madrid not the outcome I was hoping for today but a lot to be proud of. leaving here with my head up and more motivation to work even harder to do better next time #Godstiming,” she wrote.
Her family was quick to respond. Her mom, Candi, reposted the message with two red hearts on her Instagram story. In her own words, Coco has always felt that unique mother-daughter bond. “Yeah, I mean, both my parents are constant support all the time. My mom, it’s just a motherly thing. There’s nothing like a mother-daughter relationship. Especially in swings like Asia, where it may be more isolated than usual, we just play Uno a lot,” she once said. She had shared something similar in May 2024 during an interview, calling her mom her “biggest fan.” That kind of love has helped Gauff stay strong on and off the court.
Her older brother, Codey, also showed support. He commented on her post with a simple but powerful message: “keep going ” He knows the ups and downs of competition himself. Codey, 17, is a pitcher in baseball, while the youngest Gauff sibling, Cameron, plays several sports, including tennis and football. In a Vogue interview, Gauff spoke about the impact her brothers have on her life. “My brothers, Codey and Cameron are definitely my biggest support, and they always root for me. And humble me. When I do well, they’re still going to make fun of me. And when I do bad, they’re still going to make fun of me.”
It’s clear that having them around gives her a break from pressure. “Sometimes, when you’re competing, you feel like you’re putting your whole life into whatever match you’re playing and that the odds are life or death, that’s what’s on the line. But obviously, it’s not. Having people like them around makes you feel that pressure less,” the 21-year-old added.
Faith is another thing Gauff leans on.
Coco Gauff Credits Her Faith After Madrid Final
During the trophy ceremony in Madrid, Coco Gauff made sure to thank Jesus Christ. “I’d like to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ to be here and the opportunity to play in the final. I’d like to congratulate Aryna [Sabalenka] on an incredible tournament. You’re always tough to face. Congrats to your team. The last.. well you’re always doing well… but the last four straight finals. Congrats on all the success you’ve been having,” she said.
Her faith has been a part of her tennis life from the very beginning. Back in 2019, she told The New York Times, “Before every match since I was 8, my dad and I say a prayer together. We don’t pray about victory, just that me and my opponent stay safe. After the match, I was just thanking God for this opportunity.”
Up next is the Italian Open in Rome. The American has reached the semifinals there twice in 2021 and 2024 but lost both times to Swiatek. She’s still looking for her first title of the season. Could Rome finally be her moment?
The post Mom Candi and Brother Codey Stand Tall Behind Coco Gauff Following Tough Madrid Open Defeat to Aryna Sabalenka appeared first on EssentiallySports.