Gauff Praises Pegula After Charleston Triumph, Despite Ranking Shift
Coco Gauff showed true sportsmanship after Jessica Pegula’s recent win at the Charleston Open—a victory that bumped Pegula ahead of Gauff in the WTA rankings, making her the highest-ranked American female player.
Pegula’s triumph in South Carolina lifted her from World No. 4 to No. 3, overtaking Gauff in the process. Despite the shake-up, Gauff was quick to congratulate her compatriot, commenting “Congratulations” under Pegula’s celebratory post and even liking the photo.
The result is the culmination of a strong run for Pegula, who also reached the Miami Open final and won the ATX Open in March. She’s now won 17 of her last 19 matches, notching 25 wins for the 2025 season.
Gauff: “I can turn it around”
While Pegula’s form continues to rise, Gauff has faced some challenges since her WTA title in January. With a 13-5 record in 2025 so far, the 21-year-old admits her forehand has been a point of concern since her breakthrough Grand Slam win in New York last year.
Speaking to Roland-Garros.com, Gauff shared her mindset during this period:
“Just accepting the highs and lows… With a season as long as tennis, it’s impossible to always be on a high. There are going to be low moments.”
Despite the recent dip in form, she remains optimistic:
“I feel like I’m able to turn it around. It just takes one or two matches to get that confidence back.”
With the clay season underway and summer fast approaching, both Gauff and Pegula will look to build momentum heading toward Roland-Garros.
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