What Led to Coco Gauff Venting Out Anger at Leylah Fernandez and Her Doubles Partner in the 2022 US Open?

In the 2022 US Open, Coco Gauff and her partner Jessica Pegula fought against Leylah Fernandez and Daria Saville in a high-stakes doubles match. The American duo battled fiercely but fell just short, losing in three straight sets by 6-3, 5-7, 6-7. However, it wasn’t just the defeat that grabbed headlines. A moment of controversy during their critical Championship tiebreaker shifted the focus away from the score line. So, what happened in the match?

With Fernandez and her Aussie partner Daria Saville trailing 5-7, the latter made a controversial call, shouting “let” mid-point, even though Gauff and Pegula were leading. Chair umpire Christian Rask backed Saville’s decision, noticing that a piece of paper had flown onto the court. The problem was that it hadn’t interfered with play and the points remained the same. However, Gauff and Pegula were furious. “She can’t call let!” Pegula protested, with her partner Gauff adding, “It’s the second time! You’re taking points away from us… You’re stealing points from us.”

Things escalated when Gaff’s partner Pegula, visibly enraged, dropped an “f-bomb” aimed at the chair umpire. “She [Gauff] has a sitter right on top of the net. You did not call it until she [Saville] stopped. She yelled in the middle of a point, ‘Let!’, you can’t even f***ing do that,” Pegula said, highlighting her frustration over the umpire’s decision. Despite the controversy, The American pair ultimately accepted their loss and ended their 2022 US Open doubles campaign in the first round. The incident quickly made its rounds in the media, with Eurosport’s X account sharing the moment.

Despite all the tension, a positive Fernandez shared her thoughts on playing doubles matches. “Doubles is just so fun. You get to play with a partner. The atmosphere is different, and when you play with the right partner, you get to have fun on court and enjoy the atmosphere. Even though there may be no fans in the stands, because there’s more players on court, there’s always a few laughs here and there,” she reflected before stepping onto the court.

Fernandez’s lighthearted take on doubles matches contrasted with the intensity of her matches. Yet it also showcased the Canadian player’s maturity in the sport. Her forward outlook has only fueled expectations for her 2025 Australian Open performance. Although she was defeated by  Coco Gauff in their recent singles encounter at the United Cup, the Canadian star remains a formidable threat for the former US Open champion.

Coco Gauff is not over-confident about overpowering Leylah Fernandez  in Melbourne

Reflecting on her upcoming clash against Leylah Fernandez at the 2025 Australian Open, Gauff said, “We’ll see two days from now. Obviously I did well at United Cup. It’s a different match, different story.” Gauff’s statement highlighted she was not letting her 2025 United Cup win impact her confidence. Instead, she is prepared to take down the Canadian star with her hard work.  Reflecting on Fernandez’s skill, Gauff hyped the Canadian thinking that she might play aggressively. She believed this was Fernandez’s strategy to overpower her opponents. The former US Open champion also expected a great performance from her Canadian opponent highlighting what a great mover, performer, and Grand Slam finalist Fernandez had been in the past.

The 2023 US Open champion also practiced hard with a leftie ahead of her clash against Fernandez in the 2025 United Cup. She confessed her reason behind this.  “I knew it was going to be my first match. It was something that I wanted to prep for, just be ready for,” she said in a press conference. Despite the rivalry, Gauff’s statement had a hint of admiration toward the Canadian opponent. Similarly, Fernandez channeled her respect for the former US Open champion. Reflecting on how “playing against (Coco Gauff) is never easy,” Fernandez found her American colleague a  “tough opponent” and a “great competitor.”

Leylah Fernandez and Coco Gauff’s heavily anticipated second-time singles clash will take place at 3:00 am EST Friday at the Margaret Court Arena. Tracking their previous encounters, the upcoming match has filled the fraternity’s hope for a never-wracking battle. So are you ready? Don’t forget to share with us the player you are rooting for in this match!