Coco Gauff had to face her doubles partner Jessica Pegula at the Canadian Open and she handled it well but still lost the match.
It was a very difficult match for both players because they know each other so well. Every detail about the game of the other is rather well known which makes it difficult to really find an edge. Pegula found one early but Gauff responded in the second set however she still lost the match in three sets.
Obviously matches like these are trickier than most but Gauff played down just how difficult they are. Most tennis players are pretty familiar with the games of each other so them knowing each other that well doesn't make too much difference in her mind.
I mean, it doesn't feel as much as people make it out to be. Jess and I have obviously more of a public friendship because we're playing doubles a lot, but I'm friends with a lot of the girls on tour, so it's quite the same thing.
Obviously, we're playing doubles, so you guys -- I guess our friendship is more of a big thing, but you'll be surprised how often we play people that we're close to on tour. It's nothing different. You know, you fight your hardest on the court, and off the court everything is cool.
For Gauff playing tennis matches is strictly about business. She wants to win regardless of who her opponent is and whether that is a close friend like Pegula or a player that she doesn't know that well matters very little to her personally.
I want to win regardless who is on the other side of the court. she probably knows my game better than most players because we do spend a lot of time together on court with practicing for doubles and practicing with singles and stuff, but I guess the personal side of it, no, I don't think it makes it harder.
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