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Coco Gauff, the 20-year-old tennis sensation, has returned to her roots to give back to the community that nurtured her passion for the sport. Before the Miami Open, Gauff visited Pompey Park, where she unveiled newly refurbished public tennis courts and hosted a tennis clinic for underprivileged children.

Gauff’s connection to Pompey Park runs deep. Born in Atlanta and raised in South Florida, she spent countless hours honing her skills on these courts. As a tribute to her humble beginnings, she etched the park’s coordinates on the sole of her signature New Balance shoe, the Coco CG1s.

“It’s been on my shoes since the (Coco) CG1 launched, so it’s really special to come back and be able to do something for the community that did a lot for me,” Gauff said.

The refurbishment of Pompey Park is the first in a series of tennis court renovations planned throughout the country as part of the US Open Legacy Initiative, launched in honor of Gauff’s maiden Grand Slam victory. The initiative is a testament to Gauff’s commitment to making tennis more accessible and inspiring future generations.

“I strongly believe that tennis can continue to become a more accessible sport, and I would like to thank the USTA for continuing to commit to do so,” Gauff said. “Investing in public parks and in our youth is very important.”

Since 2005, the USTA has awarded over $17 million in Tennis Venture Services (TVS) grants, benefiting 43,000 tennis courts and impacting over $610 million of infrastructure development. The US Open Legacy Initiative will further support these efforts, ensuring that more people have access to quality tennis facilities.

“All of us involved in tennis are aware of our sport’s life-enhancing benefits, and we are committed to protecting courts and partnering with others to spur new facility development which will ensure more access for more people in more communities,” said Dr. Brian Hainline, Chairman of the Board and President of the USTA.

In addition to specific projects selected by Gauff, the US Open Legacy Initiative will also support any project that involves resurfacing public courts that meet the USTA’s TVS grant criteria. All completed projects will receive a sign commemorating their refurbishment in honor of Gauff’s US Open victory.