Coco Gauff offers encouraging words to Jessica Pegula after US Open final heartbreak

Coco Gauff made sure to send out some encouraging words to Jessica Pegula after her good friend fell just short of winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open.

In New York, the 30-year-old made her first Major final after upsetting top-seeded Iga Swiatek and former world No. 7 Karolina Muchova. But against No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka, the American tennis star could not pull off another big win as the Belarusian earned a tight two-set win 7-5 7-5.

Before this deep US Open run, Pegula was a stunning 0-6 in her Slam quarterfinals. While the world No. 3 felt a big relief to finally lay to rest a negative record that would often be brought up, it didn’t change the fact that it was extremely disappointing for her not to become a Major champion at Flushing Meadows after coming so close. 

“Getting to reflect the last few days and just want to say thank you for all the support. What a crazy journey this is and continues to be…trust yourself and the work you do, promise it pays off,” the 30-year-old wrote on Instagram two days after the final. 

In the comment section, Gauff wrote: “Amazing tournament (two heart emojis).”

What Pegula said after the US Open final loss?

Early in the first set, the sixth-seeded American blew an early break and found herself 2-5 after losing four consecutive games – managed to get back into the set and tie to five games apiece – but still ended up losing the first set after losing the 11th and 12th games. 

Down by a set, the home favorite recovered from an early break down in the second set and went 5-3 up. But after coming one game away from forcing a decider, Pegula disappointingly lost the next four games and the match.

“It was a super tough match today. Obviously, right now, I would love to be in the third set, but at least I am happy to have had chances to win a set, knowing that I was down in both sets. I was able to find a good level of tennis, although I couldn’t sustain it; my congratulations to her, she played great tennis in the key moments,” she reflected after the loss.

Since the new top-ranked American female tennis player was playing in her first Slam final and Sabalenka her fourth, some thought that the 30-year-old may have felt nervous and anxious in those key moments. But she shut down that claim, saying she felt mentally fully ready. 

“Today I felt pretty good, I wasn’t nervous. I felt I was ready. Perhaps that changes once you enter the match, but I didn’t feel nervous. I think I handled the moment pretty well, besides not being ahead,” the world No. 3 said. 

A couple of weeks earlier, the Belarusian tennis star also prevented Pegula from winning the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati after beating the American 6-3 7-5 in the final. In their two meetings that came this summer, the world No. 2 clinched two straight-set wins but three of the four sets played were extremely tight. 

“I wish she would have at least let me get one set. Oh God. We had obviously another tough match in Cincinnati a few weeks ago and she’s been playing some amazing hard-court tennis, if not the best hard-court player in the world. So I knew it was gonna be challenging and tough. I mean, she’s super powerful, goes for her shots,” the American said.

Sabalenka tipped Pegula to become a Grand Slam champion

By beating the world No. 3 in the US Open final, the 26-year-old Belarusian won her first title at Flushing Meadows and now also has three Majors in her collection. While the new three-time Slam champion was thrilled and ecstatic about her latest success, that didn’t stop her from showing class and offering some words of encouragement to the 30-year-old American who lost the biggest match of her career.

“Talking about Jessica, I know how tough it is to lose in the finals but you’re showing some amazing tennis. And I’m more than sure that one day you’re gonna get one. I mean, not one, maybe more but let’s start from one Grand Slam. Congratulations on a great summer, you’re an amazing player,” Sabalenka said.

Also, the No. 2 seed admitted that she was absolutely feared that Pegula was getting back into the match and that there would a third set.

“In that second set, honestly, I was just praying. I was literally saying that I’m praying for getting this win and you’re talking about giving you one set,” Sabalenka said.