Coco Gauff’s Hilarious Admission of Ghosting Carlos Alcaraz Until His 2022 US Open Win
Coco Gauff, the world No. 2 and 2023 US Open champion, revealed in a May 28, 2025, Bleacher Report interview at the 2025 French Open that she ignored a 2019 Instagram DM from Carlos Alcaraz, then an unknown junior, until he won the 2022 US Open, per Sportskeeda.com. The lighthearted confession, which went viral, highlights their shared rise as tennis prodigies and mirrors the resilience of athletes like Luke Littler after his 2025 Premier League Darts final loss.
**Gauff’s Ghosting Story**
During her breakout 2019 Wimbledon run, where 15-year-old Gauff reached the fourth round by defeating Venus Williams (6-4, 6-4), Alcaraz, then 16, messaged her: “Hey Coco, do you remember me?” referencing their simultaneous Junior Fed Cup wins for the US and Spain, per Yardbarker.com. Gauff, unaware of him, didn’t respond, admitting, “I didn’t remember him, so I didn’t respond,” per Bleacher Report. She felt “bad” only after Alcaraz’s 2022 US Open triumph over Casper Ruud (6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3), which made him the youngest ATP world No. 1 at 19, per Hola.com. Gauff then DM’d congratulations, laughing, “Our DM spread is like, ‘Hey, do you remember me?’ and me saying ‘Congratulations,’” per TennisInfinity.com. Fans on X, like @da_muguruza, found it amusing, with some joking Gauff’s snub fueled Alcaraz’s success, per.
**Their Parallel Journeys**
Both Gauff and Alcaraz, born a year apart (2004 and 2003), were junior standouts in 2019. Gauff’s Wimbledon heroics (103.20 average, PDC-style metrics) contrasted with Alcaraz’s junior quarter-final exit, per ProFootballNetwork.com. By 2025, Gauff had nine WTA singles titles, including the 2023 US Open, while Alcaraz boasted 19 ATP titles, including four Grand Slams, per ProFootballNetwork.com. Their friendly bond grew, evident in 2023 when Alcaraz saluted Gauff’s US Open win, and at the 2024 China Open, where he complimented her in traditional attire, per Express.co.uk. At Roland Garros 2025, Gauff beat Olivia Gadecki (6-2, 6-2) and Tereza Valentova (6-4, 6-2), facing Marie Bouzkova next, while Alcaraz reached the third round against Damir Džumhur, per Eurosport.es.
**Resilience Amid Pressure**
Gauff’s candidness about the DM mishap reflects her ability to laugh off early missteps, much like her handling of a 2025 French Open racket mix-up, per Yardbarker.com. This resilience parallels Luke Littler’s vow to “break his own records” after his 11-8 darts final loss to Luke Humphries on May 29, 2025, despite a foam finger incident, per Express.co.uk. Like Venus Williams’ praise for Gauff’s “attitude,” Jack Draper’s loneliness confession, and Aryna Sabalenka’s Djokovic defense, Gauff’s story shows athletes navigating fame’s pressures, per Sportskeeda.com.
**Conclusion**
Coco Gauff admitted ghosting Carlos Alcaraz’s 2019 DM until his 2022 US Open win, a funny anecdote shared at the 2025 French Open, per Sportskeeda.com. Their friendly rivalry, from junior obscurity to Grand Slam glory, shines at Roland Garros, per Eurosport.es. Like Littler’s darts grit, Williams’ support, Draper’s candor, and Sabalenka’s passion, Gauff’s tale underscores resilience. She faces Bouzkova on May 31, live on TNT Sports.[](https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-i-felt-bad-i-respond-coco-gauff-reveals-shocking-details-ignoring-carlos-alcaraz-s-message-3-years)[]
