Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old tennis phenom, emerged from the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal with a gleaming doubles title, a victory that showcased her resilience and versatility. Partnering with fellow American McCartney Kessler for the first time, Gauff clinched her tenth career WTA doubles title in a thrilling final against third-seeded duo Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai, with a hard-fought 6-4, 1-6, [13-11] scoreline. The triumph, her second doubles title at the Canadian Open following a 2022 win with Jessica Pegula, sparked a wave of celebration on social media, where Gauff shared her joy and gratitude with fans and her new partner.
The journey to the title was anything but straightforward. Gauff, the world No. 2 and top seed in singles, faced a disappointing Round of 16 exit to 18-year-old Canadian wildcard Victoria Mboko, who stunned her 6-1, 6-4. “Obviously, I’m very disappointed with myself regarding that part of the game,” Gauff admitted, reflecting on her singles performance, particularly her serving struggles. She had skipped the Citi Open in Washington to refine her serve, which had plagued her with 23 double faults in an earlier match against Danielle Collins. Yet, her doubles campaign offered redemption. Teaming with Kessler, Gauff navigated a challenging draw, defeating Fanny Stollár and Wu Fang-hsien in the first round, seventh seeds Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez in the second, and Grand Slam champions Barbora Krejčíková and Jeļena Ostapenko in the quarterfinals. A semifinal win over Olga Danilović and Hsieh Su-wei set the stage for the epic final.
The championship match was a rollercoaster. Gauff and Kessler secured the first set 6-4 with sharp teamwork, but Townsend and Zhang roared back, dominating the second set 6-1. The deciding super-tiebreak stretched to a nail-biting 13-11, with Kessler’s clutch performance proving decisive. Gauff, who had taken a break from doubles after splitting with Pegula post-Paris Olympics, was elated. “Fun two weeks here in Montreal, glad I got to leave here with another one for the cabinet,” she posted on X, adding, “Thank you McCartney for playing with me and for being so clutch & thank you guys for the support.” On Instagram, she shared a playful quip: “Lol temporarily came out of doubles retirement and got a dub!” The hashtag #CoKart, a nod to their “Coco and McCartney” partnership, captured the lighthearted spirit of their victory.
Gauff’s social media posts also included a nod to finalists Townsend and Zhang, showcasing her sportsmanship. Photos of the four players posing together highlighted the camaraderie, even after a fiercely contested match. Her mother, Candi Gauff, joined the celebration online, expressing pride in her daughter’s resilience, while skiing legend Lindsey Vonn also chimed in, applauding Gauff’s achievement. The victory marked Gauff’s tenth doubles title, matching her ten singles titles, including two Grand Slams (2023 US Open and 2025 French Open). Her previous Canadian Open doubles triumph with Pegula in 2022 made her and Pegula the first American women to sweep both the Canadian and Cincinnati Opens in the Open Era, a milestone Pegula celebrated in 2023 with a retweet: “Consider it swept.”
Gauff’s doubles success came at a pivotal moment. After a stellar 2024, where she won the French Open doubles title with Katerina Siniaková and singles titles in Beijing, the WTA Finals, and Auckland, her 2025 season had been intense. She noted the mental and physical toll of the schedule, saying, “The season has been really intense; it’s impossible to be at my best every week.” Her decision to play doubles in Montreal, despite a self-imposed “doubles retirement” after limited appearances in 2024, was strategic. “I feel more pressure serving in doubles than in singles because I don’t want to give the match away for my partner,” she explained, highlighting how doubles helps her simulate high-pressure moments. Her flawless serving in doubles—zero double faults in one match—contrasted sharply with her singles struggles, offering valuable lessons.
As Gauff prepares for the Cincinnati Open, where she’s seeded second and faces a second-round match against Wang Xinyu or Emiliana Arango, her Montreal triumph is a confidence booster. Her 2023 Cincinnati title, where she defeated Iga Świątek and Karolína Muchová, remains a career highlight. With the US Open looming, Gauff’s ability to bounce back from singles disappointment with a doubles title underscores her versatility and mental fortitude. Her heartfelt messages to Kessler and fans reflect a champion who thrives under pressure while staying grounded, a trait that continues to endear her to the tennis world. As she wrote on Instagram, “I’m still in shock honestly can’t find the words but all I can say for now is just thank you and never give up on your dreams.”
Leave a Reply