Gauff to scale down doubles outings at Grand Slams

The American says she is enjoying having proper rest days between matches at the US Open

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August 31, 2024

When Coco Gauff was marching her way to her first Grand Slam final at the French Open in 2022, she outlined how playing doubles at the majors was helping her stay loose on her days off between singles matches.

Doubles is usually a good way for players to work on their volleying skills and forward movement – not to mention serve and return – but it seems now, with her intentions fully focused on winning her second US Open title, she is going to scale down her doubles outings.

“Doubles, I’m not playing it (here),” she said at Flushing Meadows on Friday, having battled back to beat Elina Svitolina in three sets to reach the fourth round of the singles. “It does change my routine. It’s nice to have an off day, a real off day.”

Coco Gauff’s title defense is still alive! pic.twitter.com/4nX00ikVw4
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2024

“I probably won’t play as much anymore. My goal was to always win a doubles slam (which she did at Roland-Garros this year). I’ll maybe play every now and then. I don’t know if I have the motivation to go week in and week out anymore like I was doing it.

“It is nice mentally to have a break in between, like, not competing and just go out and practice and work on the things.”

“I would still like to play a mixed next year, maybe at Wimby”

Together with Katerina Siniakova, Gauff won her first slam doubles title at Roland-Garros this year and a few weeks later, she became the doubles world No 1.

However, her long-term partnership with Jessica Pegula broke up earlier this year and though the pair reunited for the Olympics, they lost in the second round. Gauff also lost early in the mixed, with Taylor Fritz. Despite her decision, though, she says she may still play the odd event here and there.

“I still want to do mixed maybe once next year, here or Wimby,” she said. “I feel like it could be nice to win a mixed slam to complete the cabinet, I guess.

In addition to her French Open crown, Gauff has won eight other doubles titles, and reached the US Open final with her fellow American, Caty McNally in 2021.