While Coco Gauff has always been private about her personal life, the identity of her longtime boyfriend, Jalen Sera, is no longer under wraps. Before stepping onto the court for her opening match at the Omnium Banque Nationale, the 20-year-old tennis star gave fans a rare peek into their relationship, sharing the birthday surprise she had planned for him.
Who is Jalen Sera?
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Jalen is involved in the entertainment and music world, with credits listed on IMDb for projects like Telensia, City of AI, Honest T, and Troll. Alongside acting, he’s also a musician who plays the guitar and is said to be preparing for music school. He was born on April 26 in Durham, North Carolina.
His Instagram (@jalensera) gives a small glimpse into his creative side, and while he keeps a relatively low profile, interest in his account has grown recently, with followers now close to 10,000.
A personal connection from early on
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Their connection actually dates back to childhood, as Coco’s mother taught Jalen in elementary school and remembers him fondly, saying, “He’s always been a smart, nice kid.” Jalen is Coco’s first serious boyfriend, and the couple began dating in 2023. Since then, they’ve kept things largely private, quietly marking milestones together. Most recently, they celebrated their second anniversary shortly after Coco’s victory at the 2025 French Open, which is her second Grand Slam title.
Coco’s extra special gift to her boyfriend
Before her opening match at the Omnium Banque Nationale this week, Coco offered a rare glimpse into their bond when asked about the kindest thing she’s ever done for someone. Her answer?
“Probably an anniversary gift I made for my boyfriend. It was like this scrapbook situation. It took me four or five hours to make. It’s pretty intricate — wasn’t your average scrapbook,” she said.
Q: “Canadians are known for being kind, what’s the kindest thing you’ve ever done for someone?” 🇨🇦
A: 😊⬇️ pic.twitter.com/cNYsxwfLe3
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 29, 2025
In the second round of the Omnium Banque Nationale, the top-seeded Gauff was pushed to the limit by fellow American Danielle Collins, being two points from defeat in the deciding set but managing to claw her way back to a hard-fought 7-5 4-6 7-6(2) win after nearly three hours of play. Her third-round opponent will be Veronika Kudermetova on Thursday.
