During a recent interview, Tatjana Maria spoke about her hopes for her daughter Charlotte, 11, to pursue a professional tennis career, noting Coco Gauff as a key inspiration. Charlotte has already begun competing in junior tournaments, and Maria, who is 37 and a four-time singles titlist, shared how her family manages Charlotte’s tennis development.
Maria made headlines at the HSBC Championships at London’s Queen’s Club by winning the WTA 500 grasscourt event as a qualifier, defeating Amanda Anisimova in the final. At the post-match press conference, she explained her parenting approach when it comes to Charlotte’s tennis future, emphasizing the importance of balancing roles within the family and coaching team.
“Charlotte has her own coach now, because we try also to split it a little bit to be really — our goal would be we are really parents for her, mom and dad, and she has her team.”
—Tatjana Maria, Professional Tennis Player
Maria referenced Coco Gauff and her parents as a model for how she hopes to support Charlotte without becoming her coaches directly, highlighting the value of parental encouragement separate from technical guidance.
“It’s a little bit example of Coco Gauff also. We would like to do the same style, to be the parents at the end of the day. So, yeah, I mean, it’s a lot of organization, let’s say, but it’s super nice,”
—Tatjana Maria, Professional Tennis Player
Coco Gauff’s Family Dynamic Offers a Positive Model for Tennis Parents
Coco Gauff’s journey sheds light on a supportive yet balanced family involvement in professional tennis. Until 2023, her father, Corey, acted as her head coach but stepped back from coaching duties to improve their dynamic. After winning the 2025 French Open women’s singles title over Aryna Sabalenka, Gauff spoke openly about the impact of this decision.
“You know, they’re definitely someone who listens to my opinion the most, and I think sometimes we hear crazy stories of tennis parents and all that, and I can say I don’t relate to that. I asked my dad to take a step back and he did and it ended up being a great thing for both of us.”
—Coco Gauff, Professional Tennis Player
Gauff also praised her mother Candi for providing essential female energy and perspective within her predominantly male team. This balance has become a crucial part of her professional support system.
“I have my physio, but you know, being in a team full of men, I was like, I need some estrogen and some female energy here, so I asked my mom to go. You know, women just notice more things,”
—Coco Gauff, Professional Tennis Player
Looking Ahead: Charlotte’s Tennis Journey Inspired by Gauff’s Example
As an emerging talent in the junior tennis circuit, Charlotte Maria’s development is clearly influenced by the way Coco Gauff’s family manages professional tennis life. Tatjana Maria’s dedication to maintaining the parental role alongside Charlotte’s own coaching team demonstrates a healthy approach to nurturing young athletes.
For Coco Gauff, her next major event will be the German Open, a WTA 500 grasscourt tournament where she stands as the No. 2 seed, continuing her ascent in women’s tennis.
The example set by Gauff’s family, blending professional support with strong parental roles, offers a hopeful model for families raising the next generation of tennis stars, including Tatjana Maria’s daughter, Charlotte.