This Tuesday, May 27, Coco Gauff will start on the clay of Roland-Garros under the sharp gaze of cameras from around the world. And for good reason, the 2022 finalist is one of the favorites. But did you know that Coco was not his real first name? We explain to you!
At the age of 21, Coco Gauff is one of the rising stars of tennis. Two years ago, and when she was only 19, she was the youngest American to win the US Open for 25 years. And the same year, she was a finalist of Roland-Garros. No wonder her name is on everyone’s lips this year, when she will officially integrate the Parisian tournament this Tuesday, May 27. Besides, Coco Gauff has recently revealed a secret until then well kept: Coco is not his real first name!
Coco Gauff reveals his real first name: where does he come from?
In the civil status, the young woman is called Cori, not coconut! “My aunt says she started calling me coco”she said. Before continuing: “But my father (who is named Corey, Editor’s note) says that when he was younger, people called him co ‘. And so he said he would call his daughter Coco”.
“I don’t know what story is true, but they tend to get upset when I don’t tell the two stories“She concluded with humor. A change of first name sometimes embarrassing for the player: “Whenever I register at the hotel or the airport, are looking at my identity card, and inevitably at the airport, you register with your real name. But, sometimes people recognize me and tell me ‘wait, you are coconut?’. And I answer ‘yes, it’s just a nickname.
Coco Gauff, daughter of activists: what are the origins of the young prodigy of tennis?
Known for its sporting exploits, Coco Gauff is also a figure in the Black Lives Matter movement. Daughter of athletes and activists, she made every effort so that the fight of her parents and grandparents continues. His grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, was the first black woman to join the Florida High School Seacrest. His grandfather, Eddie Odom, was a great baseball enthusiast, and he founded the Little League who offered black children the opportunity to flourish in sport.
The hope of tennis continues to carry this family inheritance: it gave no less than $ 100,000 to the United Negro College Fund during the month in the history of blacks. And she even created the Coco Gauff Scholarship Program which supports black students in tennis through UNCF, the United Negro College Fund.
