Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are a smashing double duo that has yet to show the true results of their partnership this year. They have not issued together in the clay swing yet, with Gauff even finding another partner. As she prepares for the Italian Open, an American up-and-coming player has shown interest in playing doubles with her. 

Jessica Pegula struggled with form when the year began and found it difficult to win more than 2 matches until the Miami Open. She showed good promise in the Charleston Open but had to retire from the following Madrid Open due to injury. She also continues her recovery hiatus from the Italian Open, opening up several avenues for Coco Gauff to explore.

The 20-year-old will compete in singles and doubles in the Rome Masters. Hearing the news of Pegula sitting out the doubles version, many players want to jump on as Gauff’s doubles partner. Alycia Parks is one of many. She recently held a Q&A on her Instagram story, where one of her fans asked her, “Would you team up with Coco for major doubles?“

Parks wrote a vehement, “I would 😎 @cocogauff“. Parks is currently in Rome, awaiting her opening-round clash in the finals clay 1000 tournament of the year. She competed in the Madrid Open doubles with Monica Niculescu. Parks will only play singles in Rome, which could see some enthusiasm from her side for the French Open doubles.

Since Pegula has not played after the Charleston Open, Gauff partnered with Taylor Townsend for the Madrid Open. They were eliminated in the quarterfinal and will not take their partnership to Rome. In fact, she has already found another partner for Rome.

Coco Gauff ready to compete in Rome doubles with first Kiwi partnership

Jessica Pegula’s persistent injuries forced Coco Gauff to find a new partner for the Italian Open. She decided to join hands with Erin Routliffe after Pegula announced her withdrawal. Routliffe is a primarily doubles player and even won the 2023 US Open in women’s doubles. She has appeared in 12 other WTA Tour finals in her career, with the 2024 Miami Open being her recent final.

Routliffe won a clay WTA event in the 2021 Palermo Open and will now look to deliver the same level of talent for Gauff, who was the finalist in the 2023 Italian Open women’s doubles. We don’t have an ETA on when Pegula will be back. Will she make it back in time to play the French Open with her partner? Or will Parks take her place?