Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis prodigy, has faced a whirlwind of challenges in her 2025 season, and now a surprising twist has added fuel to the narrative: her longtime doubles partner, Jessica Pegula, has revealed the reason behind their decision to part ways. The duo, once a formidable force on the WTA doubles circuit, has called time on their partnership, leaving fans stunned and Gauff at a crossroads as she navigates a pivotal moment in her career. Pegula’s candid explanation—“Coco and I played so much for a couple of years there. We did great… At the same time, doing well in the singles court, we obviously didn’t want to play as much anymore”—sheds light on a split driven by diverging priorities and the relentless demands of the tour.
Gauff and Pegula’s partnership was a tennis fairy tale. Since teaming up in 2021, they clinched five doubles titles, including WTA 1000 crowns in Doha, Toronto, and Miami, and soared to the world No. 1 doubles ranking together. Their run to the 2022 French Open final and a gold medal at the Paris Olympics showcased their electric chemistry, blending Gauff’s athleticism with Pegula’s steady precision. Off the court, their friendship—marked by laughter and mutual support—made them fan favorites. Yet, beneath the surface, the grueling schedule of competing in both singles and doubles began to wear on them. Pegula, now 31 and ranked No. 3 in singles, admitted the toll was undeniable: “The schedule becomes very, very tough.”
The cracks became evident after their Olympic campaign, where they fell short in the round-of-16. Pegula’s physical struggles surfaced starkly in Miami, where she retired mid-match during a doubles outing, later confessing, “I wasn’t feeling physically fit… The scheduling makes it hard.” For Gauff, whose 2025 season has been marred by early exits at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, and Miami, the split compounds an already turbulent year. Her singles slump—coupled with the pressure to defend her 2023 US Open title—has left her searching for stability. Pegula’s decision to prioritize singles, evidenced by her recent Charleston title and a five-match winning streak, underscores a shift in focus that Gauff has also echoed. “It’s tough to go week-in and week-out on tour,” Gauff noted, hinting at her own desire to scale back.
Pegula’s path forward seems clear. In Stuttgart, she’s teamed up with Desirae Krawczyk, signaling her intent to dip into doubles selectively. “I still love playing doubles when I can,” she said, though she plans to skip Grand Slam doubles to preserve energy for singles. Gauff, meanwhile, has yet to compete in doubles this year, leaving her options uncertain. Her past success with Katerina Siniakova, with whom she won the 2024 French Open doubles title, suggests she could seek new partners, but the doubles elite often lock in early, making fresh alliances tricky. Alternatively, Gauff may follow Pegula’s lead and focus solely on singles, aiming to rediscover the form that saw her triumph at the 2024 WTA Finals, where she pocketed a record $4.8 million.
The emotional weight of the split lingers. Pegula reflected fondly, saying, “We did great. A lot of really amazing results and memories.” Yet, there’s no regret in her voice, only pragmatism. For Gauff, the challenge is steeper. At 21, she’s balancing immense expectations with technical tweaks—her forehand remains a target for opponents—and the mental strain of a high-profile career. The absence of Pegula, a trusted confidante, leaves a void, but it also opens a door for reinvention. Will she chase new doubles glory or pour everything into singles to reclaim her spark? As the clay season unfolds, with Stuttgart’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix underway, Gauff’s next move is anyone’s guess. One thing is certain: her resilience, forged through years of defying odds, will guide her through this latest chapter.