If Coco Gauffis as aggressive as her mother, Candi, was on Instagram recently, the Delray Beach icon should be on her way to a second U.S. Open title.
Gauff, a mess coming into last year’s U.S. Open after just hiring a new biomechanics coach, soars into this Flushing fortnight as one of the top favorites, especially with No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a slump.
The 22-year-old, two-time Grand Slam champion captured the final tuneup to the Open in Cincinnati with a 6-2, 6-4 beating of Boca Raton’s Jessica Pegula.
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Gauff had waltzed to her first Wimbledon semifinals in the last Grand Slam event, her best showing on the stately grass. Gauff took out Pegula in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Pegula, Gauff’s friend and Palm Beach County neighbor,
is still considered a title threat in New York as she seeks her first Grand Slam title despite being ranked in the top 10 the past five years.
Pegula, the Buffalo native who has lived in Boca since 13, is seeded third and her opening match is scheduled for Aug. 30th at noon against Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Gauff, seeded fourth, won’t open until Tuesday in a first-round match against Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez, ranked 52nd, on the night card. Last year, Gauff got bumped in the fourth round at Ashe Stadium by Naomi Osaka.
“I think the expectations are high,’’ Gauff told reporters at Media Day this past weekend. “The U.S. Open can be the one you feel the most pressure at - just being an American you want to succeed and do well. I just realize I probably will be playing here 10-plus years, but in the grand scheme of life it's not really that many opportunities you get to play here. Obviously nothing is promised.’’
Coco's mom, Candi, frustrated at amount of free-ticket requests
There is a heightened excitement from Gauff’s extended family and she’s got big ones on both sides. It prompted Coco’s mother, Candi, to issue what she even called “a blunt’’ message on Instagram, seemingly frustrated at the crazy amount of free-ticket requests she’s been getting. In an admonishing tone, Candi wrote all tickets have been accounted for and sharply explained tickets are still on sale for purchase.
“Honestly, it was needed, and it was directed towards a few family and friends,’’ Gauff said. “Yeah, people come out of the woodwork. You haven't spoken to someone for years. They don't say “Congrats” or “Happy Birthday”, then they're like, 'Oh, I'm in New York, can I have 8 tickets to your match in your box, please?'
“Some people you don't really talk to, so those are the ones that seem to ask the most,’’ Gauff added. “I feel like my mom hit a tipping point.’’
As big as Coco has been, there is more of a surge in Gauff-mania with her recent form. She’s serving exceptionally well (yes, finally!!) and returning solidly, per usual.
Gauff hired a special serving coach, Gavin MacMillan, right before the 2025 Open to deconstruct her wretched service that was mounting a slew of double faults. It was odd timing but no regrets.
“I was making a big change before probably the most important tournament of my season, and there was a lot of pressure,’’ Gauff said. “But I'm really glad that I made the decision. I'm glad I didn't wait another second because the progress is there and I see it.
“I can look back a year from now. I think someone put a graph of my Cincy serve stats for last year versus this year, and I'm like, 'Oh, wow, it's a big difference.' It just feels good to come into a tournament feeling confident on that shot finally.’’
Gauff had just one double fault in the Cincy finals and saved five of six break points.
“I always knew I was capable,’’ Gauff said. “I still want to improve my serve. But I always knew I was capable of having a good one. Just because I can hit overheads well and I can get up there high on the serve speed, but it was just about making it consistent. I think once I got confident in the consistency, then I was able to pull the trigger a lot more often.’’
Gauff, who is by far the leader in endorsements among female athletes, is vying for her second Open crown after winning it in 2023. She’s also won the 2025 French Open.
“Last year, I knew all the eyes were going to be on the serve,’’ Gauff said. “Psychologically, I am now serving like I'm going to go for the ace. I know I can hit the serve and the return is probably not going to come back versus last year I literally was like I hope I make it in.
“You just feel a lot more ease when the shot is going in. I didn't even need it to be great. I just need it to go in and now it's getting good and it's going in.’’
Indeed, Gauff seems to be in a happy place.
“I sometimes I feel like I ride and die on my results, just because how competitive and perfectionist I am,’’ Gauff said. “I find that every time I have done well at a tournament is when I have taken a step back and just focus on the joy of it all.
“Before I was just so focused on winning that the experience wasn't as enjoyable for me. Sometimes, I'll win a match here and feel more relief than pride. I want (that) to switch.’’
Jessica Pegula may be running out of time for first major
At age 32, Pegula could be running out of time as she seeks to win her first major. The daughter of Buffalo Bills/Sabres owner Terry Pegula, Jessica made the Open finals in 2024, losing to Sabalenka in a close one, 7-5, 7-5.
“Looking back on the final, I remember the atmosphere being amazing,’’ Pegula said. “The roof was closed because of the weather so it seemed really, really loud. Looking back, I think I'm a much better player now. To be honest, I think I'm doing a lot of things better now.
“That doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to do them better all the time, but I do think there are things I've improved since that final. I would love to get myself back into that position.’’
Especially at the Open, Pegula identifies with Buffalo and draws a host of Bills’ fans at her Open matches. Pegula recently told The Palm Beach Post she can envison working for the Bills after tennis is over.
She always enjoys her time in New York state as the Bills are technically the only NFL team to play there. The Jets and Giants play their home games in New Jersey.
“It’s tough to balance,’’ Pegula said of being in New York for the Open. “There's so much going on. I feel like every single year we have played it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. You try your best to enjoy all the fun things that come with New York, but I think just give yourself some time to wind down.
“Especially the Americans, this week is probably one of the busiest weeks of the year for me before the last Slam of the year. I think I’ve gotten better over the years managing that.’’
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Coco Gauff ready for second US Open championship after Cincinnati win
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