In a sport often defined by fierce rivalries and intense competition, Coco Gauff has offered fans a glimpse into the friendships that help balance life on tour. Speaking during a recent social media segment, the American shared the names of the players she considers her closest friends in tennis.
Gauff is currently competing at the Dubai Tennis Championships and opened her run on Tuesday. She went against Anna Kalinskaya in the first round, claiming a straight two-set (6-4, 6-4) win against the Russian. With this win, she advanced to the Round of 16, where she will be facing Elise Mertens on Wednesday at the center court.
Amid the preparations for her upcoming match, the American spoke to DDF Tennis Championships, where she was asked about her best friends in tennis. Revealing the names of the six players she feels especially close to, she said:
“Caty McNally, Eva Lys, Victoria Mboko, Jessica Pegula, Giuliana Olmos, and Desirae Krawczyk.”
This isn’t the first time Gauff has mentioned Pegula in an interview. She has previously spoken about how the latter helped her early in her career, underscoring the mentorship and camaraderie that can exist between players.
Before competing at the Dubai Tennis Championships, the 21-year-old competed at the Qatar Open, where she suffered an early loss. She lost to Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the first round.
Coco Gauff Opened up About Pairing With Victoria Mboko at the Qatar Open doubles
Along with playing in the singles round, Coco Gauff also competed in the women’s doubles of the Qatar Open. Here, she teamed up with Victoria Mboko; however, she faced the same fate as in singles and faced an early exit in the opening round. The duo lost to Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
Following the loss, Gauff revealed how she ended up teaming up with Mboko, stating that they were initially supposed to pair up with other players:
Coco Gauff opened her 2026 season at the United Cup and then went on to compete at the Australian Open. Here, she advanced to the quarterfinal, where she lost to Elina Svitolina, who dashed her hopes of winning the Grand Slam title, claiming a 6-1, 6-2 triumph.
Read More Tennis News:
1. Serena Williams’s Ex-Hitting Partner Expresses Serious Concerns Over American’s Potential Tennis Comeback: Here’s Why
2. Eugenie Bouchard’s Bold Explosive ‘Cheating’ Question At Winter Olympics
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