Coco Gauff is puzzled by the rumor involving her and Serena Williams. The youngster, who has teamed up with her former partner, Jessica Pegula, at the Berlin Tennis Open, was faced with the claim that she declined Williams’ offer of a doubles partnership.
Meanwhile, Williams set the record straight, confirming that she never approached Gauff for a collaboration, although she would’ve liked to.
Coco Gauff Open to a Doubles Partnership With Serena Williams
Serena Williams made her highly awaited return to tennis earlier this month, choosing Victoria Mboko as her doubles partner at Queen’s Club. After their brief stint, which ended with Mboko’s withdrawal, Williams moved on to the Berlin Tennis Open with Karolína Muchová as her partner.
The pair lost their opening match 6-4, 6-4 against Erin Routliffe and Giuliana Olmos on Tuesday, June 16.
Meanwhile, Gauff entered the doubles draw in Berlin with Pegula. The move confused fans, who believed that the American turned down Williams’ invitation to focus on singles. After the duo’s 7-6(4), 6-4 win against Anastasia Potapova and Diana Shnaider, Pegula confirmed that she had come across the rumor involving her partner and Williams.
“I was like, I can’t believe Coco turned down Serena.”
Coco Gauff immediately clarified that the reports were untrue. “So many players have asked me, and I’m like, I don’t know who started that rumor. It certainly wasn’t me.”
She added, “But yeah, you just know if she ever asked, the answer will always be yes.”
Pegula chimed in by saying that she wouldn’t be offended if Williams were to steal her partner, and Gauff agreed. “I wouldn’t be offended if someone dropped me to play with Serena either.”
According to a reporter, she then said, “I’d ditch Jessica in a heartbeat.”
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Serena Williams was made aware of the pair’s statements during her press conference, which prompted her to clear the misunderstanding. “That’s hilarious. You know, I would really love to play with Coco, to be honest,” she said, indicating that she never made an offer to her young compatriot.
“She was on my list of people that I’d love to play with. I should’ve done better research on who was on the charts,” Williams added. “But Karolína is such a great player, and she’s such a beautiful player, and she’s someone I love to watch. I love watching Coco as well.”
Williams also indicated that she was unaware of Gauff’s willingness to compete in doubles. “I mean, now that I know that… She’s so focused on singles nowadays; you never really know if people are playing doubles. I guess I should’ve asked, though. I didn’t know.”
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After her exit at the Berlin Tennis Open, Serena Williams will likely resume her campaign at Wimbledon. The tennis legend has received a wildcard entry to compete in women’s doubles alongside none other than her sister, Venus.
MORE: ‘I’m Hoping’ – Coco Gauff’s Serena Williams Remark Offers Clarification on Rejection Rumors
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, on the other hand, have advanced to the quarterfinals, where they face Asia Muhammad and Fanny Stollár. In singles Gauff faces Paula Badosa in her opener, while Pegula begins her journey against Kateřina Siniaková.
