American tennis star and World No. 2 Coco Gauff has revealed why she will not be competing in the 2025 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship, citing her demanding schedule and need for mental focus. Currently playing at the Cincinnati Masters, Gauff continues to prioritize her singles career as she navigates a busy season.
At the 2025 Cincinnati Masters, Gauff recently defeated former World No. 32 Wang Xinyu in the round of 64, demonstrating her strong form on the court. Despite having earned ten WTA singles titles and ten doubles titles, including a recent doubles victory at the 2025 National Bank Open with former World No. 30 McCartney Kessler, she will skip the mixed doubles event at the US Open, which will take place during the opening week of the Grand Slam.
This year’s US Open Mixed Doubles features a new format that has sparked debate among players and fans, with only 16 teams allowed, including eight teams qualifying based on combined singles rankings rather than traditional doubles rankings. The matches will be played as best-of-four sets, with no-ad scoring and tiebreakers triggered at a 4-4 score, leading to mixed reactions within the tennis community.
Gauff, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, acknowledged that this change, combined with her packed schedule, influenced her decision not to participate in the event. She explained the challenge of juggling sponsor commitments and the physical and mental demands of competing across multiple events.
“For me, it was just because I know the free week of the US Open is already packed for me, for sponsor things, and it was just like a whole other thing. And I’m very competitive; if I were to lose, I would not be happy. So, I didn’t want to waste mental energy on that,” she said (via UBI Tennis).
“Then on top of the sponsor stuff, the pre-week, and then knowing that this finished on Monday and potentially having to play on Tuesday. Well, you would have to play on a Tuesday. So I just knew it wasn’t going to work out for me, scheduling-wise.”
During the ongoing Cincinnati Open, Gauff was set to face former World No. 21 Dayana Yastremska in the round of 32, but Yastremska withdrew for health reasons, allowing Gauff to advance automatically to the round of 16. Her upcoming opponent will be the winner between Jelena Ostapenko and Lucia Bronzetti.
Gauff Shares Ambitions and Views on Career Progression
At a press conference during the Cincinnati Open on August 8, 2025, Coco Gauff candidly discussed her career aspirations and the balance between ambition and patience. While eager to achieve more titles soon, she recognizes the importance of gradual progress and learning from other players’ paths.
“I do want so much to happen like now, now. But then I look at some of my competitors and seeing like the success that they’re having. A lot later than where I am right now. I would love to do as much as possible as soon as possible,” she said (0:42 onwards).
Gauff’s cautious approach to managing her schedule and focus reflects her resolve to sustain success while navigating a demanding tennis calendar, highlighting her maturity as a rising star on the WTA tour.
Her decision to withdraw from the US Open Mixed Doubles underscores the challenges top players face balancing competitive ambition with mental and physical well-being. As the US Open approaches, all eyes will be on Gauff in singles, where she remains a strong contender for further Grand Slam achievements.