Coco Gauff is a force to be reckoned with on the court, but off it, she’s down-to-earth and funny, making her a fan favorite. She’s not afraid to dish out witty comments. Remember when she told critics, “Most of the internet coaches never coached anyone at my level or never played”? Gauff’s got a spark in her words that’s hard to ignore. And it’s because of her bubbly personality that she is easy to be friends with as well. Her friendship with American players like Jessica Pegula, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, and Chris Eubanks is well-known amongst fans. But would she call them if she was in trouble?

On Tuesday, March 11, Gauff, in an interaction with the WTA, was asked, “Who would you not call in an emergency?” Her response was quick: “Definitely Frances Tiafoe.” This wasn’t surprising, given their playful banter from time to time. The two Americans constantly trade jokes that leave fans in stitches. Coco once teased Tiafoe about his 2023 US Open outfit, saying he was “wearing confetti.” She even playfully mocked his serve, saying “Look at his serve, it sucks.”

But hey, Coco tried to balance her choice by naming a WTA player, too. But then she casually noted that she would trust any of the WTA players over an ATP star. “Yeah, either Frances Tiafoe on the men and on the women…I feel like women are just better and smarter so I can’t really think of somebody off the top of my head that wouldn’t be good. So I’m just honestly gonna stick with Frances. I feel like that’s a man question,” the former US Open champion added.

In the end, Gauff cleverly defused any tension by saying, “No offense you guys,” after claiming women were smarter than men. It’s clear she knows how to handle tough questions with ease.

Earlier, during a chat on the Tennis Channel, Gauff shared her thoughts on the best and worst texters among her friends. She named Jessica Pegula and Ben Shelton as the worst, while Chris Eubanks and Desirae Krawczyk turned out to be the best in her book. Not just that, but she affectionately revealed that she calls Krawczyk “Mama Dez” and might even have her on her emergency contact list.

But while she wouldn’t call Tiafoe in case of an emergency, she sure would defend him for his hilarious blunders!

Coco Gauff finds a scapegoat for Tiafoe’s racket mishap at the Indian Wells Open

Frances Tiafoe recently made headlines for the most hilarious reason at the 2025 Indian Wells Open. On Friday night, March 7, he stepped onto Court 2 to face Damir Džumhur, only to realize he had forgotten his rackets! The crowd erupted into laughter as Tiafoe explained the situation to his opponent, and his coach, David Witt, sprinted off to retrieve the missing gear. After a brief delay, the American eventually flashed his signature grin as the rackets arrived, and he went on to win the match in straight sets: 7-6(4), 7-6(7). This moment of forgetfulness turned into a memorable night for “Big Foe” in the California desert.

But Tiafoe didn’t stop there. A day later, he was at it again, this time faking a racket mishap before his third-round match against Yosuke Watanuki. The chair umpire was momentarily worried, but Tiafoe quickly broke into a smile, revealing it was all a prank. Although his match against Watanuki didn’t end on a high note, with Tiafoe losing 4-6, 6-7(6), his humor and lightheartedness stole the show. This playful side of Tiafoe is something Coco Gauff knows well, as the two share a close friendship filled with banter and mutual teasing.

Speaking to the Tennis Channel on Tuesday, she defended Tiafoe’s blunder, saying, “Honestly, to defend, I am to defend Frances which is a rare thing. I’m gonna put the blame on David. I’m putting it on David because usually the coaches… Well, from what I’ve seen, and my team, the coaches will bring the rackets to us right before a match and put them in our bag.”

Despite joking that she wouldn’t call Tiafoe in an emergency, it’s clear that their bond is strong and will continue to entertain fans with their witty exchanges and humorous antics.