Imagine stepping away from your duties for a while, only to find your best friend teaming up with someone else to get things done. It might sting at first, right? But once you’re back, your mission is clear: get back to the winning duo you once were. This is exactly what American tennis star Jessica Pegula is experiencing with her long-time doubles partner, Coco Gauff.

Pegula failed to participate in the French Open following a rib injury, leaving her partner searching for someone else. After competing in the Billie Jean King Cup, the World No.5 had been diagnosed with a potential risk of developing a stress fracture, which forced her to spend time away from the court. Amid her absence, her long-term doubles partner Coco Gauff was seen pairing up with other players, including Katerina Siniakova, who clinched the doubles trophy at Roland Garros. However, the unstoppable force of Gauff and Pegula has reunited in the grass-court season. The duo will also play doubles together at Wimbledon. 

This reunion has made many wonder how Jessica Pegula managed to separate the title-winning pair. The latest to join the fray was Martina Navratilova. Engaging in an exclusive interview with the American, Navratilova made a tongue-in-cheek remark and asked how the billionaire player managed to get Gauff back. “Was it hard getting her away from Siniakova here? Did you have to, like pay her off or something?” the former Czech player questioned humorously.

For the unversed, the American star sported a career prize money total of $12,383,246 after the 2023 season. Her father, Terry Pegula too was ranked as the 128th richest person in the US with a net worth of $7 billion, as of March this year. But no, she didn’t have to use her generous funds!

The World No. 5 player revealed that she was initially unaware of the partnership between Coco Gauff and Katerina Siniakova. “I didn’t even know they were playing until they were like in the quarters. I was like oh I didn’t even know,” Pegula revealed the time difference being the reason for not following the Clay Slam as much. Continuing further about getting her partner back, Pegula revealed that both of them decided it long back and Gauff keeps her promise.

“So it’s funny but luckily I think I asked her like before that. I already had it locked down.” Interestingly, Gauff had a hard time separating from her short-term partner.

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula faced Katerina Siniakova in the first-round doubles match in Berlin where the Czech played doubles alongside Linda Nosková. To their surprise, the American pair was handed a baffling defeat in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0. With the grass-court Grand Slam in progress, it will be interesting to see if the pair can achieve big. Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula is not just eyeing Wimbledon with Gauff. 

‘I think it’ll be fun,’ Jessica Pegula reveals her plan with Coco Gauff for the Olympics

With the grass-court Grand Slam already in progress, the next major tournament players are eyeing is the Summer Olympics. Speaking in the same interview, Jessica Pegula revealed that she and her World No. 2 partner are trying to get some momentum ahead of the grand stage.

She explained that Wimbledon would help the pair gain some momentum. “Hopefully we can maybe get some momentum here. I know it’s not clay but at least for the Olympics.” Further emphasizing Gauff’s title victory in the doubles segment at Roland Garros, Pegula acknowledged that it would add to their advantage. “It’s nice obviously. Her getting a double slam is really cool and then hopefully, we seem to play well there, doubles, um, so for the Olympics, I think it’ll be fun.”

Can Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff achieve big at Wimbledon and then at the Summer Olympics? While only time will tell the result, what remains absolute is the display of some magnanimous gameplay at both these venues.