“If my former self from a year ago could see me now, they’d be astounded. I’ve emerged from that dark place stronger than ever, and these past months have been nothing short of extraordinary, proving that tough times eventually pass.”

Coco Gauff’s mother Candi has expressed her love for her daughter over the 20-year-old’s soul-stirring reflection on her own evolution during the 2023 season. The first half of Gauff’s 2023 campaign was a nightmare, as she, for the most part, failed miserably to live up to the high expectations from her. However, she turned things around in the second half, which culminated in her monumental 2023 US Open title triumph.

Gauff started the 2023 season on a high, as she won the ASB Classic in Auckland. However, her performances dipped soon after, especially at the Majors. At the Australian Open, she was ousted in the fourth round, while her French Open campaign came to an end in the quarterfinals. Arguably her most disappointing result last year came at Wimbledon, where she was shockingly bundled out in the first round by compatriot Sofia Kenin.

At the time, Gauff faced plenty of criticism, particularly for her error-prone forehand. She roped in Andre Agassi’s ex-coach Brad Gilbert to minimize the weaknesses in her game soon after, and the appointment worked like magic. Gauff won the Citi Open in Washington, the Cincinnati Open (her first WTA 1000 title), and then the US Open. She finished her season with strong displays at the China Open and the year-end WTA Finals, registering semifinal finishes across both events.

Recently, the World No. 2 looked back on her 2023 campaign during a pre-tournament press conference ahead of her first-round match at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. She confessed to being in a “dark place” after the disappointing first half of the season. However, she concluded on an optimistic note, recalling how her fortunes transformed in the second half.

“I wish a year-ago-me could see me now. I was really in a dark place, but I think I’ve grown a lot. I’m glad I used that moment to strive to get better. The next part of the season was the best I’ve ever had. That just shows bad moments don’t last forever,” Gauff said.

The reigning US Open champion’s mother Candi took notice of her daughter’s admission. Candi later took to Instagram and sent love to her daughter with three heart emojis via her Instagram Story.

Gauff became the new World No. 2 following her run to the semifinals of the 2024 French Open, replacing rival Aryna Sabalenka. It marked Gauff’s career-highest ranking so far, and her mother Candi shared her delight over the development via her Instagram Story.