As the U.S. Open progresses, Coco Gauff has made a strategic decision to focus exclusively on her singles performance, revealing a significant shift in her tennis career priorities.
The 20-year-old star has announced that she will not compete in the women’s doubles draw at this year’s tournament, a move that reflects her evolving career ambitions.
Gauff’s decision means she will not be partnering with American Jessica Pegula, with whom she has achieved notable success, including five titles and a memorable appearance together at the Paris Olympics.
Despite their strong partnership, Gauff has chosen to concentrate on defending her women’s singles title, a testament to her commitment to her individual career goals.
In a candid post-match interview after her intense third-round victory over Elina Svitolina, Gauff addressed her shifting focus.
“Yeah, doubles. I’m not playing it,” she stated. “It does change my routine. It’s nice to have an off day, a real off day. I probably won’t play as much anymore.”
Gauff’s change of heart about doubles stems from a realization that her singles career demands a different level of focus and energy. She reflected on her previous ambitions to achieve a career Grand Slam in doubles, having won the 2024 French Open women’s doubles title with Katerina Siniakova.
However, Gauff acknowledged that balancing doubles with her singles pursuits may no longer align with her long-term objectives.
The young tennis prodigy remains open to the possibility of participating in mixed doubles in the future, expressing interest in competing in mixed events at major tournaments like the Australian Open or Wimbledon.
“I still want to do mixed maybe once next year, here or Wimby. I feel like it could be nice to win a mixed slam to complete the cabinet, I guess,” she said.
Gauff’s approach to the U.S. Open has been highly focused and strategic. Following her victories, she has dedicated time on the practice courts to fine-tune her skills, particularly her serve and backhand.
Her regimen includes balancing intense practice sessions with the physical demands of tournament play.
“It’s kind of a balance of saving yourself physically,” she explained. “Sometimes I’ll spend, like, three, four hours on the court a non-tournament week, but obviously you can’t do that during the tournament.”
This shift in Gauff’s career trajectory highlights her dedication to achieving excellence in singles play while managing the complexities of a demanding tournament schedule.
As she continues to navigate this new phase of her career, Gauff’s strategic choices reflect her growing maturity and commitment to her tennis ambitions.
Fans and analysts will be watching closely as Gauff aims to solidify her position at the top of the sport, making her singles campaign at the U.S. Open a focal point of interest.
