Coco Gauff, the 2025 French Open champion and world No. 2, received a sparkling surprise gift from Paula Lilleström, Aryna Sabalenka’s close friend, during her Wimbledon preparations on June 28, 2025, adding a touch of glamour to her intense training grind. According to *EssentiallySports* and *Motorcycle Sports*, Gauff shared on Instagram Stories that Lilleström gifted her a stunning pair of diamond earrings from her Aces by Paula Lilleström jewelry collection, launched with The 1916 Company in May 2025. The earrings, crafted in 18k gold with dazzling diamonds, came with a handwritten note from Lilleström: “Coco! I wanted to gift something very special for me. I launched my jewelry design and wanted you to have these diamond earrings. Hope you like them!” Gauff responded with gratitude, captioning her post, “Thank you so much, so sweet and beautiful @paulabadosa,” showcasing their bond, per.
The gift, reported by *Motorcycle Sports* as reflecting Lilleström’s journey of “athletic grit and resilience,” added a moment of warmth amid Gauff’s rivalry with Sabalenka, which had been strained by Sabalenka’s controversial French Open final comments on June 7, 2025, where she attributed her 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 loss to her own errors rather than Gauff’s skill. The duo reconciled with a viral TikTok dance on Centre Court on June 27, 2025, signaling their renewed camaraderie, per *The Guardian*. Fans on X, like @TennisVibes, celebrated the gesture, tweeting, “Paula’s gift to Coco is so wholesome! #WimbledonVibes,” while @GameSetMatch noted, “Classy move by Paula, stealing the show before SW19.”[]
Gauff, who faces Dayana Yastremska in the first round on June 30, 2025, expressed excitement about wearing the earrings, telling *The Independent*, “It’s such a sweet gesture from Paula. I’m obsessed with them.” The gift, described as a symbol of “sisterhood” by *Motorcycle Sports*, underscores the growing solidarity among WTA players, contrasting with the earlier tension with Sabalenka. As Gauff aims for her first Wimbledon title, this heartfelt moment with Lilleström, Sabalenka’s bestie, adds a layer of positivity to her campaign, with fans buzzing about the “elegance and legacy” of the Aces collection, per.[
