After defeating Marie Bouzkovå in straight sets, Coco Gauff (No. 4) takes on Marta Kostyuk (No. 10) in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Cincinnati Open.
While Gauff has 3-2 career record against Kostyuk, the Ukrainian star is surging after defeating Mirra Andreeva (No. 5) 6-4 0-6 2-6 in the Round of 16. After missing out on the finals at the Canadian Open, Gauff is looking to make a statement before the US Open.
She called the Cincinnati Open “the last warm-up before” heading to New York City for the Grand Slam while speaking to People. To help keep the Florida native grounded on the road, I “usually journal or talk to a therapist to help me navigate it all,” she added.
GettyU.S. tennis star Coco Gauff competes at the 2026 Cincinnati Open.
Gauff didn’t mention her boyfriend, Jalen Sera, who’s typically her No. 1 source of support. The 22-year-old first sparked rumors that the longtime couple broke up during her run at the Canadian Open while sharing posts about cheating. Gauff added fuel to the fire with her latest social media activity.
Coco Gauff Reposted a TikTok Video About ‘New Beginnings’ After Deleting Photos of Boyfriend Jalen Sera
Two days before taking on Kostyuk in Ohio, Gauff reposted a video on TikTok with text that read, i am a lover with or without a lover. because love is who i am not who i’m with.”
A few days earlier, she reposted another video that read, “how do you expect new beginnings if you don’t create space for them. end cycles let people go, let go of an old mindset, create space.”
As for Sera, his most recent Instagram post is a series of photos with the caption, “No stringssssss.”
While Gauff still has old photos of Sera up on Instagram, like this photo from Atlanta in June 2025, she deleted the most recent ones, including one featuring him in New York City in September 2025. She also took down a photo of the couple wearing matching reindeer antlers in her Christmas Day roundup.
Coco Gauff Highlighted Her Boyfriend’s Support in Previous Interviews
GettyCoco Gauff of the United States celebrates match point against Marie Bouzkova of Czechia at the 2026 Cincinnati Open.
After winning the 2023 US Open, Gauff, who first started dating the musician three years ago, gushed over Sera’s support.
“Last night, I started [to get anxious] a little bit, but honestly, I just called my boyfriend, and I told him let’s talk until it’s time to go to sleep, so we spoke until 1:00 a.m. and then I went to sleep.
Speaking to E! News in August 2025 about he stays grounded during tournaments, “Honestly, after a good match, I just talk to my boyfriend, my friends, everyone cause I’m in a good mood,” she said. “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.”
“He’s always telling me to trust the process,” she added. “Just know that I’ve already accomplished a lot and there’s no need to be so negative.
“That’s kind of what my whole team, my parents, everybody says. I’m someone that can criticize myself a lot, so I just try to make sure that I stay positive.”
Coco Gauff and BF Jalen Sera’s Cryptic Posts Turn Heads at Cincinnati Open