For American tennis player Coco Gauff, tennis means more than just competing and winning games.
It’s about assisting other children in reaching their own tennis aspirations.
On March 19, Gauff, 20, teamed up with the USTA at Pompey Park in Delray Beach, Florida to reveal the park’s newly improved public tennis courts dedicated in her honor.
During her heartfelt return to her roots at Pompey Park, Gauff informed the USTA: “Now, my focus is to maintain the growth and quality of public tennis courts.”
Coco Gauff’s Legacy at Pompey Park
South Florida native Gauff didn't grow up playing tennis at an exclusive club. Instead, the tennis sensation has been practicing on the public tennis courts at Pompey Park since she was eight years old, according to her interview with Vogue on March 6, 2024.
But young Coco isn’t the only one with special memories at Pompey Park.
Gauff’s family history at Pompey Park extends beyond the tennis courts to the baseball field, which was named after Gauff’s grandfather, Eddie.
On the day of the unveiling, Coco’s parents, Corey and Candi, shared with WPBF 25 Sports why this event is significant for the Gauff family.
“A legacy that has been passed down through generations. My parents started the baseball league and founded it, and their names are on the field and now my daughter is a part of the Pompey tennis courts,” Coco’s mother Candi said.
“It’s quite an honor because I literally learned to play tennis on these courts as well,” Coco’s father Corey continued, “Yeah, [Coco] continues to amaze us. She is very grounded, and she’s had a lot of practice with church and doing community events.”
Gauff now carries her personal connections to Pompey Park with her to every tennis match, as her signature shoe, the Coco CG1s, show the park’s coordinates on the sole.
“It’s been on my shoes since the (Coco) CG1 launched, so it’s really special to come back and be able to do something for the community that did a lot for me,” Gauff expressed.
Paving the Way for Future Generations
“It’s really special to come back and be able to do something for the community that did a lot for me,” Coco Gauff expressed at the event.
According to the USTA Florida, the refurbishment of Pompey Park is just the beginning of the USTA’s broader initiative to renovate public tennis facilities across the country. Following Gauff’s US Open victory, the USTA launched the US Open Legacy Initiative in her honor, setting aside $3 million to upgrade courts at public tennis venues nationwide.
Also at the unveiling event were USTA Chairman, Dr. Brian Hainline, and CEO, Lew Sherr.
“All of us involved in tennis are aware of our sport’s life-improving advantages, and we are committed to safeguarding courts and collaborating with others to encourage new facility development, ensuring increased access for more individuals in more communities,” Dr. Brian Hainline said.
As young Coco continues to realize her aspirations, she is determined to help other children achieve their dreams as well.
“I firmly believe that tennis can continue to become a more accessible sport, and I would like to thank the USTA for continuing to commit to do so,” Gauff said. “Investing in public parks and our youth is very important. I had a huge dream and this city, my family, my community supported that, and now I’m in the position to help maybe spark that dream in another kid.”
