‘She’s mad at me’ – Coco Gauff’s rival makes US Open admission after shock doubles decision

Picture a bustling US Open week, with fans buzzing about the newly introduced mixed-doubles event stacked with stars like Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic—and yet, one big name is noticeably absent: Coco Gauff.

Why? Coco, the reigning French Open champion, simply couldn’t fit it into her busy schedule. With sponsor commitments, pre-tournament obligations, and a tight turnaround from the Cincinnati Open final, she decided it wasn’t worth the mental drain. As she put it bluntly: “I’m very competitive; if I were to lose, I would not be happy. So, I didn’t want to waste mental energy on that.” It’s a refreshingly honest take—Coco knows what she can handle and clearly draws her boundaries.

Now enter Jessica Pegula, one of her closest rivals—and, by all accounts, good friends. Pegula did sign up for the mixed-doubles, and she’s excited about the event and what it could bring to tennis fans. But she didn’t hold back in calling out the US Open organizers for rolling out the format without enough player input. “You guys went rogue and changed the format and didn’t tell anybody,” she said. “Did you talk to the players? Did you get their input?” Her critique wasn’t bitter—just a call for smoother communication in future.

Amid all of this, a lighthearted and memorable moment emerged: Pegula admitted she’d been thinking about retiring—she turned 31 earlier this year—but Coco wasn’t having it. “She was mad at me because I was like maybe a couple more years,” Pegula laughed. Coco’s response? “You can play until LA [the 2028 Olympics]!” Now that’s friendship—and faith in someone’s game.

So here’s the snapshot: Coco Gauff opts out of US Open mixed doubles to focus on what matters most to her—performance, recovery, and sponsorship commitments. Jessica Pegula takes part, voices concerns about how the event was structured, and gets cheekily encouraged by Coco to keep going strong for years to come. It’s tennis, but it’s also strategy, communication, and camaraderie wrapped in one neat—and quite human—package.