Tennis fans thought Coco Gauff’s jaw-dropping win at the US Open was the biggest headline of the night—until the afterparty pictures started surfacing. Forget forehands and match points, the internet was buzzing for a very different reason: Coco was spotted hanging out with a celebrity that no one expected.
Yes, Coco Gauff—the 20-year-old tennis superstar—was photographed side-by-side with none other than Grammy-winning rapper Drake. That’s right. Champagne Papi himself. Fans nearly broke the internet when the images leaked, showing Coco laughing with Drake at an exclusive post-tournament bash. Suddenly, the night turned from “tennis victory” to “crossover event of the year.”
Social media went berserk. “Tennis + Hip Hop = iconic duo we never asked for but desperately needed,” one fan tweeted, while another joked, “Drake’s about to drop a mixtape called Serve & Volley.” Memes, gifs, and wild theories followed in seconds. Some wondered if Drake was simply congratulating Coco as a fan, while others half-seriously claimed he might be her “secret mental coach.”
But here’s the kicker: Coco didn’t even try to downplay the encounter. When asked about it later, she smiled and said, “I grew up listening to Drake. To celebrate my win with him there? That’s just surreal.” Smooth, Coco. Smooth.
Fans instantly crowned her the “coolest champion in sports.” After all, not many 20-year-olds can say they beat world-class opponents and then casually partied with one of the biggest names in music. The pairing seemed so random, yet somehow it worked. Drake—known for his courtside presence at NBA games—looked right at home in the tennis scene, while Coco embraced the attention with her trademark mix of charm and humility.
Of course, the internet couldn’t resist spinning the narrative even further. Some speculated a possible collaboration—imagine Coco appearing in a Drake music video or Drake dropping a lyric about her on his next album. Others, cheekier, suggested Drake’s infamous “curse” might spell trouble for Coco’s next match. “Protect Coco at all costs,” one fan warned.
Regardless, the afterparty sighting solidified Coco Gauff’s status as more than just a sports figure—she’s officially entered pop culture royalty territory. Tennis champions win trophies. Superstars win headlines. Coco? She’s now doing both, and the world can’t get enough.
