USA's top-ranked WTA player Jessica Pegula confirmed she has signed up to play doubles with Coco Gauff at the next two WTA 1000s before US Open.
Last weekend, Pegula admitted that they had agreed with Gauff to give the doubles draw in Washington a miss due to extreme heat in the capital. Doubling up in such a short space amount of time before the two WTA 1000 double headers in Montreal and Cincinnati would be physically taxing.
Both of them had a seamless start to their singles campaign in Washington, with Pegula holding off Ohio native Peyton Stearns in two sets and Gauff making light work of hometown girl Hailey Baptiste 6-1 6-4. Gauff and Pegula could meet each other in the final.
Speaking to the media following her win over compatriot Stearns, Pegula admits they'll try to play both WTA 1000s in the next couple of weeks in singles and doubles, highlighting the need to keep their ranking points for winning the doubles title at the Canadian Open last year.
"We are signed up to play Montreal and Cincinnati and US Open. Depends. But, you know, those are 1000s, big events. I think we will probably still try and play those."
"Actually I think we won Toronto last year, so I guess we should play, defending some points (smiling). I don't think we played Cincinnati last year. I think that's when she turned her ankle. Yeah, as far as I know, we are playing (smiling). I should probably ask, though."
Pegula won her opening match a little earlier before rain washed out most of the matches in the second half of the day's schedule. Asked whether the weather this week had any sort of impact on her US Open preparations, Pegula said she is adaptable.
"Yeah, I don't think anything feels similar to the Open unless you're at the Open. And also the weather changes so much there, as well. It can be really, really hot. It can be cooler, like today. Depends on what court you're playing on, who you're playing, and the conditions can really change dramatically."
"But, I mean, yeah, I think we are used to adapting, and I think that's the thing is you just have to adapt to the conditions and not let that overtake your game and frustrate you to where it's affecting everything else."
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