Coco Gauff’s BF Jalen Sera Pulls Out the Best Birthday Surprise for His Girlfriend With a Wholesome Message
Coco Gauff’s Journey of Resilience: A Birthday Surprise Amid Indian Wells Heartbreak
Coco Gauff’s career is a testament to resilience, perseverance, and unwavering determination. When she captured the 2023 US Open title, she became the fourth-youngest American to do so at Flushing Meadows and the youngest since Serena Williams in 1999. Though she has faced setbacks along the way, Gauff’s spirit remains unshaken, earning her the respect of her fiercest competitors.
Her latest challenge came at Indian Wells, where she fell to Belinda Bencic in a grueling three-set battle in the Round of 16. However, any lingering disappointment was soon eased by a heartwarming birthday surprise from someone special.
A Special Birthday Message
On March 13, Gauff turned 21. While she would have loved to still be competing at Indian Wells, she had something else to celebrate—returning home to loved ones. Among those who made her day extra special was her rumored boyfriend, Jalen Sera.
Sera, an aspiring artist from Atlanta, took to Instagram to share a sweet message alongside a snapshot of the two playing arcade games:
“Happy birthdayyyy @cocogauff Big 21! I hope it’s your best one yet.”
Though Gauff has kept her personal life largely private, she previously expressed appreciation for dating someone outside of the tennis world. In an interview, she described Sera as a “really nice guy” who worked his way through music school.
Family First: A Birthday Celebration at Home
Following her Round of 16 exit, Gauff revealed that she planned to celebrate with her family.
“I don’t know if I’m going to feel any different, but yeah, it’s an exciting age to turn. I usually don’t really care about my birthday, but this one feels special. Obviously, I would have loved to still be playing here, but I’m excited to get home and celebrate with my family.”
One of the first to wish her was her mother, Candi Gauff, who shared a heartfelt tribute on social media:
“You made me a mom!! One of the biggest blessings and honors a woman can have. From the time you were born, I knew you were destined for greatness! Gifted, talented, and beautiful! A great big sister, a wonderful daughter, and a global change-maker. I love you! Happy birthday!”
Gauff’s Determination to Improve
Despite the birthday celebrations, Gauff remains focused on fine-tuning her game. After her loss to Bencic, she acknowledged that her serve remains a work in progress, particularly after hitting eight double faults in the match.
“I still think I could have served better. I was more consistent, but I want to get more aggressive with it. In that last game, up 40-Love, I probably could have gone bigger in those moments. It is an improvement, but I hope to continue to do better from here.”
Though she has been working with technique correction specialist Matt Daly, Gauff admitted that the adjustments haven’t quite translated into matches yet.
“I want to have better results, but I can’t crush myself over it. I’m trying to improve, and that’s all I can do. Hopefully, things start coming together soon.”
With the majority of the season still ahead, Gauff remains determined to refine her game and chase more titles. If her grit and self-belief are anything to go by, it’s only a matter of time before she’s lifting another trophy.
