The banter between tennis titans is always gold, but when Coco Gauff publicly called out good friend and fellow tennis star, Jessica Pegula, for a forgotten gelato tab, the internet (and fans!) erupted! This hilarious exchange spiced up the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, providing a lighter moment amidst intense competition.
Key Points from Gauff's Roman Run:
- Coco Gauff playfully roasted Jessica Pegula for not footing the bill for gelato after their joint appearance on Pegula's Player's Box podcast.
- The humorous "gelato-gate" unfolded at the BetMGM Tennis Channel Desk following Gauff's dominant straight-sets win.
- Gauff quickly bounced back from an early exit in Madrid, securing a strong victory against Tereza Valentova at the Foro Italico.
- Looking ahead, the American star is adopting a "chill" mindset for her Roland Garros title defense, drawing lessons from her US Open experience.
"Big Mama" vs. The Gelato Bill
Appearing on Jessica Pegula's Player's Box podcast to review gelato before the Rome Masters, Gauff didn't miss a beat when questioned by Prakash Amritraj about who paid. "No, she did not!" Gauff exclaimed, adding, "I think she could have paid for our gelato, and I asked her, like, ‘You’re not gonna pay, Big Mama?’ Especially Jess, like if you know, you know."
The nickname "Big Mama" ties into Pegula's well-known family wealth, with her father Terry Pegula owning the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. Chinese fans affectionately call her "Da Fu," which translates to "Big Rich," a fact Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen previously highlighted. Gauff even suggested the podcast hosts should split earnings from the likely highly viewed video, playfully targeting Pegula, Madison Keys, and Desirae Krawczyk.
Gauff Finds Her Rhythm in Rome
After a disappointing early exit from the Mutua Madrid Open due to illness, Coco Gauff roared back into form at the Foro Italico. Fuelled by a coffee-pistachio gelato combo (presumably), she delivered a commanding 6-3, 6-4 victory over Tereza Valentova. This win signals a strong return to her clay-court prowess, a crucial step before Paris.
Parisian Ambitions: A Calm Approach to Defending the Crown
While Gauff enjoyed back-to-back runner-up finishes in Madrid and Rome last year before clinching her second Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, she's keeping her perspective grounded this time. "I think [Roland Garros] is a tournament where I can usually do well regardless of how the momentum is going into it," Gauff stated. She's focused on finding her best serving rhythm and learning from her experience defending the US Open title.
Gauff expressed a desire to be "a little more chill" this time around, trusting her body to adapt. Her ultimate goal is to "continue to just show up for myself" on the big stage. The path forward in Rome sees Gauff set to face either 2023 finalist Anhelina Kalinina or Argentina’s Solana Sierra for a coveted spot in the fourth round.
