“He is the only one”: Inside Coco Gauff’s bond with boyfriend Jalen Sera after her US Open heartbreak against Naomi Osaka
Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis star and World No. 3, leaned heavily on her boyfriend, Jalen Sera, for emotional support following her devastating fourth-round loss to Naomi Osaka at the 2025 US Open on September 1, 2025. The straight-sets defeat, 6-3, 6-2, at Arthur Ashe Stadium marked Gauff’s second consecutive year exiting in the fourth round, a significant setback for the 2023 US Open champion and 2025 French Open winner. Despite the heartbreak, Gauff’s two-year relationship with Sera, an Atlanta-based musician and aspiring actor, provided a pillar of strength, with Gauff openly crediting him as the “only one” who can handle her post-loss moods, as detailed in an exclusive E! News interview.
Gauff’s bond with Sera, which began in 2023, has deep roots. Sera was a fourth-grade student of Gauff’s mother, Candi, in Atlanta, who described him as a “smart, nice kid” in a 2024 TIME interview. Their connection rekindled years later, evolving into Gauff’s first serious relationship, offering her a “fresh perspective” outside the tennis bubble (*TownandCountryMag.com*). After her US Open exit, Gauff shared a reflective Instagram post, expressing gratitude for her run—highlighted by wins over Ajla Tomljanovic, Donna Vekic, and Magdalena Frech. Sera responded with an encouraging comment, urging her to “keep moving forward,” a sentiment Gauff echoed in her E! News interview: “When I lose, I would say just my boyfriend ’cause he is the only one that can take me and my mood after a loss.” She added that Sera reminds her to “trust the process” and focus on progress rather than mistakes, countering her self-critical nature.
The loss to Osaka, who advanced to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2021, exposed Gauff’s ongoing struggles with her serve, despite recent coaching changes with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan (*BBC Sport*). Gauff admitted to 33 unforced errors, including 20 on her forehand, and a shaky return game, telling reporters, “I felt so discombobulated… I’m serving well, but not returning well” (*ESPN*). Yet, she remained resilient, stating, “I am not going to let this crush me.”
Sera’s support extended beyond the US Open. When he faced a personal tragedy—the loss of his grandfather on September 4, 2025—Gauff responded to his Instagram tribute with three heart emojis, a gesture of solidarity during his grief (*MotorcycleSports.net*). Their public moments, like Gauff’s February 2025 Valentine’s Day post of roses from Sera and his one-word praises—“Regal” for her Oscars look, “Warrior” for her Italian Open semifinal—highlight their mutual encouragement (*EssentiallySports*). With a 38-13 record in 2025 and a French Open title, Gauff’s reliance on Sera’s emotional grounding will be crucial as she targets more majors, starting with the China Open.
