Clarifying the Partnership Rumors
As the grass-court season kicks off at the Berlin Open, American tennis star Coco Gauff has addressed ongoing speculation regarding her relationship with legend Serena Williams. Following reports that suggested Gauff had turned down an offer to partner with Williams in doubles, the 22-year-old clarified the situation during her pre-tournament press conference.
Addressing the media, Gauff dismissed the rumors of a snub, confirming that she and Williams had not discussed a partnership. “I’m hoping that one day she’ll hit up my line to play doubles. That would be really, really cool,” Gauff stated. The confusion originated from reports by journalist Jon Wertheim, which led fans to speculate that Gauff had prioritized her partnership with Jessica Pegula over an opportunity to play with her idol.
Stakes at the Berlin Open
Gauff enters the Berlin Open as the fifth seed and has received a bye in the opening round following the withdrawal of Amanda Anisimova. In the doubles draw, she remains committed to her partnership with Jessica Pegula, with their campaign set to begin against the duo of Anastasia Potapova and Diana Shnaider.
While the focus remains on her performance, Gauff also took a moment to engage with the broader tennis community. She was recently spotted praising fellow WTA star Eva Lys, who drew attention for a feature in Vogue Germany. Gauff, alongside Alexandra Eala, publicly lauded the German player’s photoshoot, highlighting the camaraderie currently present among the players competing in Berlin.
As the tournament progresses, the focus shifts back to the court. Gauff awaits the winner of the match between Suzan Lamens and Paula Badosa in the Round of 16, while Serena Williams, playing in a doubles-only capacity, has partnered with Karolína Muchová to face Erin Routliffe and Giuliana Olmos.