Coco Gauff acknowledges message of "soft-launching" boyfriend after cryptic selfie with mystery man

Coco Gauff is soft-launching her boyfriend, according to her latest social media activity. The American recently shared a cryptic selfie from her time in Atlanta, which caught the attention of her fans and followers.

Gauff is juggling her personal and professional life this off-season. She has ramped up her 2025 preparations with a training block in Florida while also making time for her family and friends. Last month she attended the Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in Los Angeles with Atlanta-born guitarist Jalen Sera and also celebrated the Thanksgiving festivities with her loved ones.

The 20-year-old, who hails from Atlanta, recently shared stunning glimpses of her visit to her hometown. Coco Gauff sported a hip patch jacket for the occasion. What stole the spotlight, though, was the final picture—a cryptic mirror selfie of her with a mystery man. Several fans in the comments were curious about the image and quizzed the 2023 US Open champion about “soft launching” her boyfriend.

Although Gauff refrained from responding, she did acknowledge a message from a fan, hinting that it was indeed a soft launch.

"Cuteee and the soft launchhhhhhhhhh," the fan wrote.

Coco Gauff’s best friend, Jamilah Nicole, too, was intrigued by the pair’s selfie.

"Last pic," she wrote, adding multiple head-exploding emojis.

Coco Gauff and Jamilah Nicole on Instagram

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"This is my first real relationship" – What Coco Gauff has said about her boyfriend

Gauff pictured at the 2024 Canadian Open - Image Source: Getty

Although Coco Gauff hasn’t explicitly revealed the identity of her boyfriend, she has dropped several clues about their relationship over the past year.

After winning the 2023 US Open, the American said that a post-midnight call with her partner helped her calm her nerves during the final. In her interview with Time magazine earlier this year, Gauff addressed her personal life, noting that she was in her “first real relationship.”

"This is my first real relationship. To just have someone to talk to who is not involved in tennis at all gives me a fresh perspective," she said.

In March, she disclosed that he hails from her hometown, Atlanta, and plays the guitar.

"He’s a very nice guy. He’s in school now. He’s about to apply for music school. He wants to be an actor and he plays the guitar. He’s not from Delray. He’s actually from Atlanta," Coco Gauff told Vogue.

At the time, she also joked that her ardent fans had discovered him through her interactions on social media.

"And actually, um, I will say this: People on Twitter (X) found him two or three days ago. I won’t respond and confirm if it’s him or not, but they caught me in the comments, so they know. Some people thought it was someone in tennis and that couldn’t be further from the truth," she said.

Gauff, who won three titles this season—the ASB Classic, the China Open, and the WTA Finals—is set to begin her 2025 campaign at the United Cup alongside Taylor Fritz and Team USA.