Remember the last time Coco Gauff played doubles? It was the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she and her close friend Jessica Pegula fell in the second round to the Czech duo Muchova and Noskova. And it was the last time they featured together. “Doing well in the singles court, we obviously didn’t want to play as much anymore,” Pegula explained the reason for parting ways, as both shifted their focus to singles. But Coco is now back playing the doubles again. Teaming up with one of her closest friends, she’s stormed into the R16 at the Madrid Open.
The World No. 4 Coco Gauff is back on the doubles court, and this time, she’s making waves with longtime friend Robin Montgomery. On Friday, she teamed up with Robin for her first doubles match of the 2025 season at the Madrid Open, facing the experienced American duo Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk. The match kicked off with Coco and Robin confidently taking the first set 6-3, showing off their chemistry and aggressive shot-making.
With fluid movement and relentless energy, they shut their opponents 6-0 in a flawless performance in the second set as well, sealing the match in straight sets. Stats backed up the dominance as they won 69 percent of first serve points, converted five of nine break points, and won 30 service points. The pair didn’t just win, they sent a message, cruising into the R16 with authority.
After their stunning win, Coco Gauff took to her Instagram to share the joy. The 21-year-old reposted a fan page’s celebratory post, which highlighted their success. “A winning debut for Coco and Robin @cocogauff and @robinm0nty put up a brilliant performance against the Number 4 Seeds Dolehide/Krawczyk, beating them in straight sets by 6-3 6-0!!! Some superb stuff from our girls beating such a top-class double team!!! Only looking forward to their next match, we enjoyed watching them today a lot!! They will face the winner of Hunter/Perez and Fernandez/Putinseva on Sunday in Round 2!!! Let’s go, girls,” the post read.
Coco added her own caption while re-sharing the post: “fun playing with my girl @robinmonty.” But that wasn’t all, as she followed it up by sharing another fan page’s clip of their last point, which read: “Flawless into Round 2 ”. Robin Montgomery also showed love, re-sharing Coco’s story on her own IG, giving fans a glimpse of the bond and mutual admiration between the two.
Gauff and Montgomery’s friendship isn’t new. Back in 2022, they faced off in San Diego, with Coco coming out on top in the first round. After the match, Coco said, “I know Robin very well. We went on a couple of USTA trips back when we were like 8 years old. Pretty much friends ever since. She played really well. I expected a good level from her. I was pretty impressed with how well she was striking the ball. It was difficult for me. I told her at the end of the match, maybe next time we play, it’s not in a first-round match, maybe we’ll play in a final.”
Robin, too, has spoken fondly of their long-standing friendship. In a 2024 interview with Clay Tennis, she shared: “We are friends. When we see each other at tournaments, we talk, we go out to dinner, that’s pretty much it, but I’d say we’re friends. You grew up together, both chasing similar goals since young. I’ve known her since I was 9, we had our first USTA camp together, so we’ve known each other for a long time.”
And while their doubles campaign gathers momentum, Coco is also keeping her singles form intact.
“Not going to win every tournament,” Coco Gauff opens up after her R64 win in Madrid
Coco Gauff’s opening match at the 2025 Madrid clay court was a test of resilience. Up against Dayana Yastremska, she endured a disastrous start, losing the first set 0-6 with her serve in complete disarray, landing only 29% of first serves and securing just 5 points on serve.
But champions rise when it matters most! Gauff stormed back with grit, taking the second set 6-2. The decider turned into an emotional rollercoaster, with constant breaks and visible frustration, yet the former US Open winner stayed composed. Without much vocal support from her box, the 21-year-old dug deep to seal a hard-fought 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 win, displaying the resolve of a GS contender.
“I think it’s just finding the balance and knowing that this is a long season, a long sport. And you’re not going to win every tournament. And I am someone that goes in believing that I can. So it is sometimes a letdown when I don’t. So I just try to take the positives from the losses, which is something I’ve been working on lately. I always thought I was the type of person who needed matches to bring confidence. And then a lot of my results just came out of nowhere with maybe not as many matches doing well,” Coco said after the match.
Up next, Gauff faces fellow American Ann Li, who pulled off an upset against the World No. 25 Leylah Fernandez in three tight sets. Can Coco build on that win and cruise past Li? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Locked In and Loud Coco Gauff Powers Her Partner’s Madrid Open Momentum appeared first on EssentiallySports.
