By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday June 2, 2021
Roland Garros featured a dynamic doubles duo for the ages today.
Seventeen-year-old Coco Gauff partnered 40-year-old Venus Williams in an intriguing French Open doubles team of the youngest woman in the draw alongside the oldest.
Venus: Key To Coping with Annoying Questions
Williams and Gauff made their doubles debut together today on Court No. 9 losing to No. 13 seeds Ellen Perez and Zheng Saisai 6-7, 6-4, 6-3.
So how did Venus, who has played doubles almost exclusively with sister Serena, and Coco, who partners compatriot Caty McNally, come together?
After McNally suffered an injury, Coco's camp, specifically father Cori Gauff, asked—and Coco revealed "I wasn't expecting a yes."
"I love playing tennis. I try to play all the events that I can," said Gauff. If I could play mixed doubles too, I would, but that's probably a bit much.
"I enjoy playing doubles. I'm actually super happy, because...my dad reached out to Venus' team last minute, because unfortunately my partner, I was playing with Caty, she got hurt in qualies, and we thought it was best if she rest and get ready for the grass.
"So I reached out last minute and I wasn't expecting a yes, to be honest. It was worth the ask. I'm happy she said yes."
It marked the first time in her career Venus played a Grand Slam doubles match with a partner other than sister Serena.
Playing alongside her tennis idol, had Gauff buzzing in anticipation.
Of course, she's already shared the court with Venus beating the former world No. 1 in her 2019 Wimbledon opener then repeating the feat with a 7-6(5), 6-3 victory in the 2020 Australian Open first round.
"It's going to be super exciting," said Gauff of partnering her tennis hero. "For me, I love playing doubles and hopefully I can pick up some things from her. She obviously has so many Grand Slams in doubles, and I want to win Grand Slams in singles and doubles.
"Maybe this week we can have a good run these two weeks. I don't know. It's going to be exciting, and I'm excited."
The 25th-ranked Gauff tuned up for Paris sweeping her first clay-court singles crown in Parma and winning the doubles title with McNally. It was a championship coming of age for the teenager who became the youngest woman to sweep singles and doubles crowns at the same WTA event since Maria Sharapova at the 2004 Birmingham.
Photo credit: CameraSport