Coco Gauff Playfully Calls Out Jessica Pegula for Ditching Movie Plans in Paris
Coco Gauff, the world No. 3, jokingly accused her friend and former doubles partner Jessica Pegula of “ditching” her for a planned movie night during the 2025 French Open. In a lighthearted Tennis Channel interview after her 6-0, 7-5 fourth-round win over Ekaterina Alexandrova on June 2, 2025, Gauff revealed that Pegula, the billionaire heiress ranked No. 4, invited her to watch the blockbuster *Thunderbolts* together in Paris. However, Pegula bailed without notice, leaving Gauff waiting. “Jess ditched me, once again,” Gauff said with a smile. “She DMed four days ago asking if I’d seen it, and I said, ‘No,’ because I was waiting for her! This is the second time she’s ditched me, so the next time she asks, the answer’s gonna be no.”[]
The playful jab, part of their well-documented camaraderie, echoed a similar incident at the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships, where Gauff called Pegula “fake” for ghosting her on another movie plan, per *Sportskeeda*. Gauff even posted on Instagram, “She texted me on Friday and it’s now Sunday, no response… gonna watch the movie by myself now,” sharing a snap of herself at the cinema watching *Captain America: Brave New World* alone. Despite the teasing, their friendship remains strong, forged through a successful doubles partnership that included five WTA titles and a 2022 French Open final, though they’ve since focused on singles due to grueling schedules, per *Hola.com*.[]
Pegula, who suffered a shock 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to world No. 361 Lois Boisson in the fourth round, took the ribbing in stride, laughing off Gauff’s comments, per *Express.co.uk*. Gauff, advancing to her fifth straight French Open quarter-final to face Madison Keys, used the moment to highlight their bond, saying, “I thought I was being a good friend, but she doesn’t care about me, clearly,” with a grin. Fans on X, like @TennisFan123, loved the banter, posting, “Coco roasting Jess is the content we need,” while @WTA_insider noted their off-court chemistry. The exchange underscores their ability to keep things light despite fierce competition, with Gauff eyeing a second Grand Slam and Pegula regrouping for the grass season.[]
