Taylor Townsend had the perfect start to 2025, with American lifting Australian Open women’s double title alongside Katerina Siniakova under Melbourne lights, outlasting Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko in a three-set thriller. It was a moment of triumph—a return to the top at a Slam, on the same courts where her career first took flight years ago. But the grind never stops.

After the highs of Australia, the Middle East swing was next on her calendar. The transition hasn’t been seamless—there was an early singles exit after a qualifiers loss to Zeynep Sonmez at Abu Dhabi Open. Still, Townsend has found solace beyond the courts, at the vast Arabian desert, golden under the sun, offered something different, which was later joined by her compatriot, Coco Gauff, albeit differently.

Townsend has never been one to shy away from embracing the moment—on or off the court. Whether it’s a fierce forehand winner or a striking fashion statement, she owns it with confidence. And recently, Townsend took to Instagram again to show a swagger of someone who knows exactly how to make an impression. Dressed in a sleek black outfit, she stood against the golden dunes; “In the UAE, call me ‘Desert Mama,’” she captioned the post, adding a camel emoji to complete the vibe. The reaction? Coco Gauff, never one to miss a viral moment, dropped in with just one word: “Wowza 😍”.

This isn’t the first time Coco Gauff, has engaged with a fellow WTA star, and just recently, after Townsend’s win in AO Open. Gauff hailed her compatriot on the Instagram story where she shared a story to celebrate the Women’s double win of Taylor Townsend with a joyous “Yess Girlsss!” caption.

The feeling has been mutual; Townsend, too, has never shied away from praising Gauff. Right after Gauff made history at the 2023 US Open by becoming the first American teenager since Serena Williams to win the title at Flushing Meadows, Townsend couldn’t hold back the emotions and took to Instagram from a recovery session, sharing a heartfelt story: “I’m over here crying on the treatment table @cocogauff.”

Gauff, who has missed on Abu Dhabi Open, will soon join her compatriot in the Middle East, as both head to Qatar for the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament.

Coco Gauff and Taylor Townsend brace for hardcourt showdown at 2025 Qatar Open

Coco Gauff’s Australian Open run ended in disappointment, after falling to Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals, which also marked her first loss of the season. 19-year-old is now focused on making a statement in the Middle East and with back-to-back WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai, Gauff has the perfect stage to reset, refine, and remind the tour why she belongs among the elite.

The 19-year-old has been a dominant force since winning her maiden Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open, but the early defeat in Melbourne leaves questions of sorts and Doha presents an immediate test and with two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka leading the charge and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek hunting for redemption after her own Melbourne stumble, Gauff will need to bring her best to contend.

Meanwhile, Taylor Townsend is taking a different path after a brief singles hiatus in Abu Dhabi. Townsend will be back in doubles with Katerina Siniaková. And with Wimbledon and Melbourne triumphs under her belt, Townsend is keen on establishing herself in the doubles circuit. Now, she’ll look to build on that momentum in Doha, where she and Siniaková are among the favorites.