Gauff-Pegula win Miami Open doubles, dedicate victory to FAU, Miami basketball teams
MIAMI GARDENS — Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula dedicated their women’s doubles championship win Sunday at the Miami Open to the rousing basketball programs at Florida Atlantic University and University of Miami.
The South Florida-based doubles team won the tournament by beating former U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez and Taylor Townsend, 7-6, 6-2 at Hard Rock Stadium. Gauff and Pegula commuted to the tournament from their homes in Delray Beach and Boca Raton, respectively.
Saturday night, Pegula and Gauff watched the Final Four doubleheader that pitted FAU against San Diego State and Miami against UConn. Both South Florida teams suffered losses with the Owls falling on a buzzer-beating shot.
Gauff said she got concerned about a South Florida jinx as she prepared for the doubles final that was contested after the men’s singles final won by Daniil Medvedev.
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“I woke up this morning, I was like, 'It cannot be another L for South Florida today,' ’’ Gauff said at Sunday’s post-match press conference. “Please, we have to win. I didn't want to say that to Jess, but I thought, are we in this curse with them or not?”
Sitting by her side, Pegula, who moved her home base from Buffalo to Boca Raton as a teenager, said she didn’t believe in curses but added it was “tough to watch’’ the FAU finish.
“Obviously we won,’’ Gauff piped up. “We redeemed them. This was for you, Miami, and FAU.’’
Gauff said she was also excited LSU won the NCAA women’s title because her father, Cori, is from New Orleans.
They became the first all-American Miami Open doubles champions since 1991 when Mary Joe Fernandez, who lives in Boca Raton, and Zina Garrison did it.
Gauff, Pegula doubles partners since 2022
Gauff and Pegula started playing doubles together last year and have won three WTA 1000 titles. It’s uncommon for Top 6 players to venture into the doubles event.
“This is one of those tournaments that you grow up watching, and I think it feels even more special than some of the other 1000s we won," the sixth-ranked Gauff said. "Doing it in front of our family, it means a lot.’’
Pegula, ranked third in the world, had made the women’s singles semifinals, causing her a rough turnaround because of rain postponements. Pegula lost her semifinal to Elena Rybakina in a match ending close to midnight Thursday, then had to play two doubles matches on Friday.
“On the court, we obviously have good results,’’ said Gauff, who lost in the third round of singles to Anastasia Potapova. “I think that kind of helped us off the court, too. I didn't really know Jess that well until we started playing together. I always tell my team this and my coaches, I don’t want to play doubles with someone I don't really get along with off the court. Because singles is very stressful enough. You don't want to play with someone that you don't like.’’
They likely will form a doubles tandem on April 14-15 when USA hosts Austria in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier being staged at the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula win Miami Open women's doubles championship
