Cori "Coco" Gauff is an American professional tennis player born on March 13, 2004, in Atlanta, Georgia. She rose to international prominence as a teenage prodigy, notably defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019 when she was just 15 years old, a match that drew widespread attention for its symbolic passing of the torch[1]. Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, Gauff is known for her powerful serve and poise under pressure, often compared to past tennis prodigies such as Tracy Austin and Jennifer Capriati[1]. Gauff turned professional in 2018 and has since built a successful career marked by rapid progression. She won her first Grand Slam singles title at the 2023 US Open, becoming only the third American teenager to win the tournament's women's singles crown[1][2]. In addition to her Grand Slam success, she has won multiple WTA titles, including prestigious events such as the Cincinnati Masters and the Washington DC Open in 2023, and achieved a career-high WTA ranking of No. 2 in June 2024[2][3]. Her 2024 season was particularly notable, capturing titles in Auckland, Beijing, and the WTA Finals in Riyadh, where she defeated the world No. 1 and No. 2 players, earning a record $4.8 million in prize money—the highest ever awarded in women's professional sports[2]. Gauff is also a top-ranked doubles player, having shared the No. 1 doubles ranking with Jessica Pegula after the 2023 US Open[2]. As of 2025, Gauff continues to compete at the highest levels, with multiple singles and doubles titles and a strong winning record. She is recognized both for her on-court achievements and her role as a young ambassador for tennis[3][5][7].