by Edwian Stokes
July 3, 2026
iROC Media Group groups with Tennis Channel and Faith of Sports activities for brand new premium collection
Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff is making her filmmaking debut with two authentic “Tennis Story” documentary shorts on tennis historical past and trailblazer Zina Garrison. She has partnered with Tennis Channel and Faith of Sports activities to government produce these tasks.
Gauff’s manufacturing firm, iROC Media Group, will co-produce the tasks with Faith of Sports activities, the award-winning collective co-founded by Tom Brady and Michael Strahan. The documentaries will premiere later this summer time on Tennis Channel and its app. Blex Media says this marks the primary in a collection of premium releases.
The primary untitled movie research the evolution of tennis trend as a platform for cultural articulation and id, each on and off the courtroom.
The second venture spotlights tennis legend Zina Garrison. Based on USTS, Garrison grew to become the primary African American lady to succeed in a Wimbledon singles closing since Althea Gibson, who achieved the feat in 1957 and 1958. Garrison reached the Wimbledon closing in 1990, and Olympics.com experiences that she additionally earned Olympic gold and bronze medals on the 1988 Seoul Video games.
By utilizing her rising media empire to highlight Garrison, Gauff bridges generational divides and honors pioneers who endured system-wide hurdles. Gauff mentioned she was impressed to discover these matters by her personal experiences as a younger Black athlete navigating the world of tennis and by a want to be taught from and elevate tales that resonate together with her. Highlighting figures like Garrison connects her journey to those that got here earlier than, emphasizing the influence of illustration and the significance of sharing underrepresented histories. This broader function frames the venture inside Gauff’s increasing position as a storyteller.
“I’ve at all times beloved how tennis extends past the courtroom and influences tradition,” Gauff mentioned in a press release. “Zina Garrison’s story is equally private to me. She is a trailblazer whose resilience, excellence, and influence on the sport have impressed generations, together with me.”
Vashni Korin will direct the manufacturing, with Chelsea Marotta serving as producer.
Tennis Channel CEO Jeff Blackburn praised Gauff’s new enterprise, noting her capacity and foresight as a champion now shine via her storytelling. As well as, Tennis Channel launched “Tennis Story: The Vault,” a curated streaming assortment of 20 brief documentaries that includes world icons like Kobe Bryant and Ben Shelton.
Gauff’s transfer into government manufacturing displays a broader pattern of younger Black athletes shaping their very own narratives. Her debut matches with the shift towards athlete-led storytelling, following stars like LeBron James, who produced “Shut Up and Dribble,” and Serena Williams, whose docuseries explored her profession on and off the courtroom. By becoming a member of these leaders, Gauff spotlights the rising motion of athletes utilizing documentary movie as a platform for genuine illustration.
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