After Victoria Mboko’s sudden exit from Queen’s, Coco Gauff was reportedly among the players Serena Williams considered for a double’s partnership in the Berlin Open. However, those plans ultimately took a different turn, with the 23-time Grand Slam champion now set to team up with Karolina Muchova in the WTA 500 event. Still, the 22-year-old’s enthusiasm about the possibility of playing with the icon seems unshakable, and the desire to share the court lingered in her words again.

“It feels really cool, I would love to play on the same side as her shooting my shot but we’ll see. I don’t know, if she asks the answer is going to be yes,” Coco said while speaking during a brief interaction with the Tennis Channel when asked how she felt about the possibility of sharing the court with Serena Williams.

The former World No. 2 also reflected on the first time she met Serena, recalling a childhood memory from Florida when Coco was invited for a photoshoot to portray a younger version of the tennis icon. 

“That moment that stuck and engraved in my memory. You just see someone on TV you don’t feel like they are real and then you see them in person they are real and then you realize that dreams are possible,” she explained.

And the rumors about Serena Williams potentially teaming up with two-time Grand Slam champion in Berlin first emerged after journalist Jon Wertheim reported that the 44-year-old was hoping to play doubles with her fellow American star.

However, the doubles draw announcement at Berlin took many by surprise. Instead of appearing alongside Williams, Coco Gauff was listed with her long-time former partner, Jessica Pegula.

The unexpected pairing at the doubles section sparked fresh speculation. Many fans were left wondering what may have happened between Gauff and Williams behind the scenes.

Yet, Gauff’s recent comments, though, appeared to put those rumors to rest. During her pre-tournament press conference in Berlin, the American WTA ace spoke warmly about the prospect of sharing the court with one of her biggest idols.

“It’ll be really cool (to share the court with Williams). I’m hoping that one day she’ll hit up my line to play doubles. That would be really, really cool,” Coco Gauff said.

“And if she were to compete in singles, it would be cool to step on the court with her just because she’s a legend and someone I looked up to. And yeah, I’m very excited to be in the same spaces as her again,” she expressed.

While both Americans are now set to compete in doubles with different partners, Gauff’s remarks indicated that there was no obvious snub involved in the team selection. If anything, the decision behind the icon not choosing Coco as her doubles partner may have had practical reasons rather than any personal ones.

What led Serena Williams to overlook Coco Gauff’s partnership at Wimbledon warmup?

The issue related to scheduling can be one of the biggest reasons Serena Williams did not team up with her fellow American colleague in Berlin. Since capturing the French Open doubles title back in 2024 alongside Katerina Siniakova, Gauff has significantly reduced her appearances in doubles events.

She is no longer a regular presence in high-profile tournaments with her former doubles partner Jessica Pegula. That change in priorities may have complicated any potential partnership plans with the American GOAT.

Another possible explanation lies in both the Williams sisters’ preference for supporting emerging talents. Players such as 19-year-old Victoria Mboko or the 24-year-old Hailey Baptiste are examples of younger stars who have benefited from such opportunities.

Although Coco Gauff is only 22 years old, the current world No. 7 has already established herself as one of the WTA Tour’s biggest names.

Along with that, there is also no guarantee that Serena Williams’ comeback journey will conclude at The Championships. Tennis fans would undoubtedly welcome the American icon back at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center later this summer for the upcoming US Open where Serena played her last match in 2022.

If the former Olympic Gold medalist extends her schedule into the North American hard-court swing after SW19, Gauff could have additional opportunities to eventually share the court with her childhood idol.

Until then, Gauff has plenty to focus on. Last summer, she went 0-2 on grass court swing after back-to-back first-round exits in Berlin and Wimbledon. 

And despite not partnering together this week, a potential showdown between Gauff and Williams in the later stages of the Berlin event still remains a possibility if both can advance to that stage.