Jessica Pegula revealed in a light-hearted method that there was no want for her to bribe Coco Gauff to play doubles together with her at Wimbledon as a result of the 20-year-old American was a girl of her phrase.
Since Pegula was injured for just about your complete clay season, she and Gauff did not get an opportunity to play on the French Open and preserve their custom of enjoying doubles collectively at Grand Slams. And whereas Pegula was injured, Gauff discovered a substitute and teamed up with one of many largest doubles names, Katerina Siniakova – they ended up profitable the French Open of their workforce debut.
For Pegula and Gauff, the disappointing factor about not enjoying doubles on the French Open was the truth that it could serve them as an ideal preparation for the Paris Olympics – the Olympic tennis occasion will happen on the courts of Roland Garros.
However after Gauff gained the French Open with Siniakova, she bought again to enjoying doubles with Pegula after the 30-year-old American recovered from her damage. And after enjoying in Berlin, the American star duo can also be set to compete at Wimbledon.
Pegula requested if she needed to give Gauff any cash to get her away from Siniakova
Showing on Tennis Channel after her Wimbledon singles first-round win over Ashlyn Krueger, Pegula was requested by Martina Navratilova if it was onerous to get Gauff away from Siniakova and if she needed to provide any cash.
“I imply Siniakova, she’s a tremendous doubles participant too. I did not even know they had been enjoying till they had been like within the quarters and I used to be like, ‘Oh, I did not even notice,’ as a result of I wasn’t following that a lot at house with the time change so it is humorous. However fortunately I believe I requested her (Gauff for doubles) like earlier than that. I already like had it locked down,” Pegula mentioned on Tennis Channel.
Navratiova then interjected Pegula a bit by stating that Gauff is somebody who retains her phrase.
“Yeah, yeah. She did yeah. In order that’s good. However hopefully we are able to perhaps get some momentum right here. I do know it isn’t clay however at the least for the Olympics. It is good, clearly her getting a doubles Slam is basically cool after which hopefully you understand we appear to play properly the doubles. So for the Olympics, I believe it will be enjoyable,” Pegula added.
“Kiss, Marry, Kill”: Clay, Grass, or Onerous?@JPegula didn’t stutter. 😎 (srry clay)#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/eDkH60ofKD
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 2, 2024
At this yr’s Wimbledon, Pegula and Gauff are the No. 11 seeds and they’re scheduled to begin their doubles marketing campaign on Thursday by taking up Anhelina Kalinina and Dayana Yastremska. That would be the first time that the 2 doubles pairs might be clashing towards one another.
Previously, Pegula and Gauff had three early Wimbledon exits however reached the quarterfinal final yr. And contemplating that Pegula and Gauff are Slam runners-up in doubles and have been probably the greatest doubles in the previous few years once they play, they’re positively among the many contenders for the 2024 Wimbledon doubles title.
Pegula may even workforce up with Gauff on the Paris Olympics later this month
For fairly a while, it has been recognized that Pegula and Gauff plan to play doubles collectively on the Paris Olympics. And whereas their major focus in Paris might be on the singles occasion, they may even have the very best doable targets within the doubles.
“You do not normally see lots of gamers enjoying, however for us I believe we get pleasure from it, and we use it as an opportunity to get higher in singles as properly. To us it is form of enjoyable that we get to exit and even when we lose singles or no matter occurs, exit and it is one other probability to compete. It is one other probability the place we wish to win,” Pegula mentioned final summer time.
“When you get on the market and also you’re within the second and also you wish to win the match, all of it form of feels the identical. So I believe for us it is extra like additional motivation, and I believe it retains us in that aggressive mindset of, ‘OK, we’re nonetheless in these stress moments even when it is doubles, and we nonetheless wish to win the match, and we nonetheless wish to get higher.’
“I do know she’s [Gauff] advised me she actually desires to win a medal subsequent yr, and she or he actually desires a Slam, in order that’s form of what we’re working in direction of. I believe it’s important to play different occasions if these are your targets.”
However for now, Pegula and Gauff’s focus stays on Wimbledon, the place they’ll attempt to win their first Slam doubles title as a pair.
