By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday June 2 2022
Coco Gauff is still alive in singles and doubles at Roland-Garros, and her doubles partner Jessica Pegula hopes that the 18-year-old can push to win both titles in the same way that Barbora Krejcikova did in 2021.
“I told her, I said, Freaking semis in singles and doubles, like we need the final of both, like, and then go for the sweep,” Pegula told reporters on Wednesday after the pair defeated Ana Bondar and Greet Minnen, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. “Like that would be awesome.”
Gauff faces Italy’s Martina Trevisan in the singles semifinals on Thursday in Paris. She lost to the Italian in their only previous meeting, in 2020 at Roland-Garros, in the second round.
If Gauff can progress into the final, she would become the youngest women’s singles finalist in Paris since Kim Clijsters in 2001.
“She loves clay, not surprised that she's in the semis,” Pegula said of her partner. “I'm sure she really wants to, you know, at least get to the final and win this next match.
Gauff and Pegula will face Taylor Townsend and Madison Keys in the doubles semifinals.
She definitely did a really great job of working through her draw pretty elegantly,” Pegula said. “Not having too many crazy matches and getting the job done. And I think that's going to give her confidence going into the semis and hopefully she can do it, that would be amazing.”
Pegula expressed amazement at how mature Gauff is for her age. The 28-year-old says it feels like Gauff has been around the tour forever.
“How old is she? 18, 19? Oh. It's just ridiculous. I'm like, I don't, I don't understand. I feel like she's been 18 for like five years. I'm like, Coco, you're like a veteran, but I'm like you're 18. Like, what?
23rd-ranked Gauff has proven to be a ringer on clay. In 2021 she reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Roland-Garros. She owns a 27-9 lifetime record on the surface.
“She has so much time, so I hope she doesn't get too stressed out about that either, because I'm sure she will have many more chances. But, yes, we're definitely hoping she gets to that final and then hopefully in doubles too.”