Coco Gauff helps unveil refurbished tennis courts at Delray Beach's Pompey Park
DELRAY BEACH — Less lanky and more bulky, Coco Gauff didn’t look like a kid anymore Tuesday at Pompey Park.
Ironically, Gauff felt like a kid again during festivities in which the USTA unveiled its refurbishment of her childhood courts in her honor as part of the U.S. Open Legacy Initiative.
The USTA donated $3 million to a court program after Gauff won her first U.S. Open last September and copped the $3 million top prize.
Gauff is no longer a teenager, turning 20 on March 13th. She grew up blocks from the park courts that also has a swimming pool plus basketball and baseball facilities.
Amid Delray Beach/USTA dignitaries and family members, Gauff said the park “has a special place in my heart’’ noting she played youth basketball here, went to pool parties, was an umpire at Little League games and even played "hide and seek.''
“But most famously I spent hours with my dad on these courts,’’ Gauff said in a four-minute speech.
Those hours not only paid off with a professional career but Gauff said she will be competing for the United States in the Summer Olympics in Paris, having qualified based on her ranking.
After her speech, Gauff conducted a tennis clinic with 25 youths from the Delray Beach Tennis Foundation. She had zipped in from Miami Gardens, where she held a practice in gearing up for the Miami Open, which opened Tuesday.
The children wore “Dream Big’’ T-shirts and Coco’s New Balance sneakers that have the coordinates of Pompey Park. She’ll wear the sneakers at the Miami Open.
“Being that age, playing on these courts and seeing someone else of the same age I was when I started, it’s full-circle moment,’’ Gauff said. “The city gave to me so giving back is important. A lot volunteers you don’t see gave to me.’’
Cori Gauff also grew up blocks from the tennis courts
Cori Gauff, Coco’s father/coach, also grew up blocks from the courts. He, too, learned tennis on these grounds, across the street from the elementary school he attended – S.D Spady.
“A lot of legacy here,’’ Cori Gauff said. “If they didn’t have these courts, I might not have played. I learned how to play tennis right here.’’
And then he shared it with Coco, who hit her first ball on these grounds at age 5. The courts were red and green then. The USTA redid the courts an exquisite blue – identical to the U.S. Open.
“They look great,’’ Gauff said. “They used to be red and (green) and were a little dirty. It’s the U.S. Open surface. I hope a lot of people can take advantage of these courts. They’re in pristine condition - better than some of the courts at the Miami Open right now.’’
Delray Beach Mayor Shelly Petrolia called Coco “a hometown hero’’ who “serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes to follow in Coco’s footsteps.’’
Gauff doesn’t get a chance to be in Delray all that much, estimating at most eight weeks a year. She now lives about 20 minutes from this section of town with her parents and brothers.
“I walk around the city quite a bit,’’ said Gauff, who turned pro at 15. “Some people recognize me. Some people see me and don’t say anything. They’re used to it. More in the East of Delray I get recognized, by the (Delray Beach) Tennis Center, but not out West as much.’’
Gauff looks different, having gained muscle weight since her 2023 Open title, but adds “not intentionally.’’
“I don’t have fitness goals but a goal is to always get stronger,’’ Gauff said. “You’re not the first to notice I’m bigger. More weightlifting went into it. Growing up, I didn’t do it as much because I didn’t want to get injured. It’s also natural to bulk up faster because my dad has the same body type.’’
Gauff will commute to Miami, where she opens Friday with her first match. She practiced with her newish coach Brad Gilbert in the morning. But Cori says that he will “always be the head coach, everyone else is an assistant.’’
Gilbert started with Coco last summer and she swept through the U.S. Open tune-ups on the way to crushing the field at the Grand Slam event in New York.
“Brad is great,’’ Gauff said. “He won’t be at every tournament. So he won’t be there for the clay season until Roland Garros (Paris).’’
Gauff enters Miami Open off semifinal loss at Indian Wells
Last March, Gauff was mired in a slump and got knocked out of the Miami Open in the third round. She is coming off a semifinal berth at Indian Wells, losing a 3-setter to Maria Sakkari.
“A year ago, I had a lot to prove playing at home in Miami,’’ Gauff said. “There was more for me to do but coming in as Grand Slam champion is definitely a a different feeling. I did what people so much wanted me to do.’’
More: Coco Gauff plays deep in Australian Open: 10 things to know about Delray Beach tennis star
Gauff didn’t have success during the Mid-East segment of the tour in February but she has shown she gets better as the year moves on. “She’s not playing where she needs to be playing but that’s OK,’’ Cori Gauff said. “She’s fighting hard right now.’’
USTA chairman Dr. Brian Hainline cited two scientific studies saying tennis was the world’s healthiest sport and hopes the courts that now boast a Coco plaque will get more kids playing.
“Investing in public parks and our youth is very important,’’ Gauff said in her prepared remarks. “I had a huge dream and my community supported it. Now I’m in the position to spark that dream into another kid."
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Coco Gauff unveils refurbished tennis courts at Delray Beach's Pompey Park
