Ex-WTA Pro Reveals Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz’s Singles Stardom as She Raises Doubles Marketability Debate

Ex-WTA Pro Highlights Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz’s Star Power While Questioning Doubles Marketability

A former WTA professional has sparked a debate about the marketability of doubles in tennis, using the rise of Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz as examples of how singles success often dictates a player’s star power.

Gauff and Alcaraz have both taken the tennis world by storm, achieving remarkable feats at a young age. Gauff, 19, captured her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, while Alcaraz, 20, has already won multiple majors, including Wimbledon and the US Open. Their singles triumphs have made them two of the sport’s most recognizable figures, drawing in fans and lucrative sponsorship deals.

However, the former WTA player—whose comments have reignited the singles vs. doubles debate—suggests that despite the entertainment value of doubles, it remains significantly less marketable than singles.

While doubles specialists like Wesley Koolhof, Storm Hunter, and Rajeev Ram have enjoyed success, their visibility pales in comparison to singles champions. Even some of the biggest doubles stars, such as the Bryan brothers or Martina Hingis in her doubles comeback, never matched the global fame of dominant singles players.

The discussion raises key questions about tennis marketing. Should the sport do more to promote doubles? Would increased prize money or scheduling adjustments help elevate its status?

For now, Gauff and Alcaraz continue to thrive as singles megastars, reinforcing the notion that singles success remains the primary pathway to global tennis stardom.