Coco Gauff after becoming world No 1 in doubles: ‘Being No 1 is pretty cool. Who wouldn’t want to be No 1?’

WTA Tour
Coco Gauff with her parents Candi Gauff and Corey Gauff

Coco Gauff broke new ground at the Canadian Open as her title win alongside Jessica Pegula saw her become the women’s doubles world No 1 for the first time.

Many have predicted big things for Gauff since she made her breakthrough as a 15-year-old at Wimbledon in 2019, but her rise in the doubles has taken some by surprise.

However, when you look at her statistics it is far from a bolt from the blue as she has two Grand Slam runners-up titles (the 2021 US Open and 2022 French Open) to her name. This year alone she has won two WTA 1000 events (Canada and Qatar) and also reached the semi-final in Miami and quarter-finals in Indian Wells and Madrid.

On Sunday the 18-year-old teamed up with fellow American Pegula to beat Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez 6–4, 6–7 (5–7), [10–5] in the Toronto final.

“Being No 1 is pretty cool,” she said. “I have no words. … I didn’t really know it was coming this week and what I had to do. But [Pegula] told me.

“As a kid, I’m going to be honest with you, I didn’t even know there was separate rankings for singles and doubles. But when I got on tour and when I realised I could do well in doubles, yes. …I wanted to. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be No 1 in anything?”

Other Coco Gauff doubles milestones

  • The 46th player to reach No 1 in the women’s doubles
  • The 11th American woman to become world No 1 in the doubles
  • The second-youngest player to be ranked No 1 at age 18 years and 154 months (Martina Hingis is top after achieving the feat at 17 and 251 in June 1998)

There was also good news for Pegula as she entered the doubles top 10 for the first time with the title win helping her to a career-best No 8.

“I’m so glad that I could help [Gauff] get there,” the 28-year-old said.

“I think we’re No 1 in the Race and the top two Americans in singles. So it’s been a pretty cool little journey that we’re on together, even though I’m 10 years older.”

Gauff and Pegula will return to action at this week’s Western & Southern Open where they are ranked fourth and the pair will face either Ingrid Neel and Jessie Aney or Alexa Guarachi and Andreja Klepac in the second round.

Coco Gauff Jessica Pegula

Latest