Coco Gauff is one of the superstars of professional tennis and sports in general.
Her all-court game and infectious personality draw hundreds of thousands of people into stadiums and arenas around the world to watch her matches.
The 21-year-old reached the pinnacle of the game by winning her first Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open.
Two years later, the tournament has made a change that could have given her another chance of success in New York, but it is an opportunity Coco Gauff is not able to take.
Photo by Fred Mullane/ISI Photos/Getty ImagesMany big names will feature in the new US Open mixed doubles event but not Coco Gauff
In February the US Open made changes to their mixed doubles tournament. It will now be played in what is known as ‘Fan Week’ rather than alongside the men and women’s singles and doubles events when the main draw commences.
The size of the field will decrease from 32 to 16 teams, and during the first three rounds, teams will need to win up to four games to win a set, while the final will be played with regular sets.
In June, the US Open mixed doubles teams were announced, with some of the best players from the ATP and WTA Tour joining forces to go for glory.
But one big name missing from the line-up is two-time Grand Slam champion Gauff, who told USA TODAY Sports why she is unable to compete.
“It’s very cool to shake it up and bring you different attention to the game. It’s something I’m not doing this year just because I have so many sponsor commitments,” Gauff said.
“Things like that are always in the week before the US Open and I’d rather try to focus on singles.”
Photo by Will Russell/Getty ImagesWould Coco Gauff like to compete in the new US Open mixed doubles event in the future?
Gauff has enjoyed success at the US Open in singles when she came from a set down to defeat Aryna Sabalenka to win the title in 2023.
She also reached the women’s doubles final in 2021 alongside compatriot Caty McNally, but they were beaten by Zhang Shuai and Samantha Stosur in three sets.
Though she is unable to play in the revamped mixed doubles event at Flushing Meadows in 2025, Gauff is open to competing next year and beyond.
“If it’s an event they continue to do, it is not something I would rule out doing in the future,” the world number two said.
“So if it goes well I’ll definitely be interested and maybe I can make my schedule align with it a little bit better.”