When Cori Dionne Gauff was barely school age she held a tennis racket and told her parents that she wanted to be the best player in the world. Her parents, Corey Gauff and Candi Odom Gauff, had been accomplished collegiate athletes. Father Corey played basketball for Georgia State University. Candi Odom attended Florida State University on a full athletic scholarship, competing in hurdles and heptathlon.

By the time Gauff was seven, she was training with a tennis pro two hours a day, several days a week. Mindful of the precedent Richard Williams had set with his tennis prodigy daughters, Venus and Serena, Corey Gauff suggested that the family move from Atlanta, where he was a vice president of a health care firm and Candi Gauff was a teacher, back to Delray Beach, Florida, home to some of the best tennis training camps in the world. Delray Beach was also Candi and Corey Gauff’s hometown. Candi Gauff homeschooled her daughter, who has two younger brothers, Codey and Cameron.

When Cori Dionne Gauff was barely school age she held a tennis racket and told her parents that she wanted to be the best player in the world. Her parents, Corey Gauff and Candi Odom Gauff, had been accomplished collegiate athletes. Father Corey played basketball for Georgia State University. Candi Odom attended Florida State University on a full athletic scholarship, competing in hurdles and heptathlon.

By the time Gauff was seven, she was training with a tennis pro two hours a day, several days a week. Mindful of the precedent Richard Williams had set with his tennis prodigy daughters, Venus and Serena, Corey Gauff suggested that the family move from Atlanta, where he was a vice president of a health care firm and Candi Gauff was a teacher, back to Delray Beach, Florida, home to some of the best tennis training camps in the world. Delray Beach was also Candi and Corey Gauff’s hometown. Candi Gauff homeschooled her daughter, who has two younger brothers, Codey and Cameron.