Some names in tennis simply paintings smartly in combination: Venus Williams and Serena Williams. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan. Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
However the 2023 US Discoverable has supplied us with a surprising pairing: Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff.
The 2 have grow to be one thing of a tandem billing all over the event at Arthur Ashe Stadium. For all 5 in their suits, Djokovic and Gauff have performed back-to-back on Ashe, together with two times right through the primetime night time consultation. On Tuesday, they each complicated to the semifinals right through their consecutive life consultation suits.
In reality, their tide streak as twin headliners in truth dates again to earlier than the event as they performed back-to-back on Middle Courtroom on the Western & Southern Discoverable of their respective singles finals latter life. Each received — and their joint just right fortune has persevered into the second one age in Fresh York.
The nineteen-year-old Gauff, who complicated to the primary US Discoverable semifinal of her profession with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory over Jelena Ostapenko on Tuesday, has been the hole function for Djokovic, 36, all over the fortnight, and he or she’s fortunately embraced the function because the event has stepped forward. Nearest her third-round win on Friday night time, ESPN’s Pam Shriver referred to Djokovic as Gauff’s “session partner” right through the post-match on-court interview and Gauff next readily stated his title to the family.
Coco Gauff publicizes Novak Djokovic earlier than he is taking the courtyard then at the USA Discoverable:
Pam Shriver: “Your session partner coming up next is…”
Coco: “NOVAK DJOKOVIC!” 😂 pic.twitter.com/0VwWixyAFb
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 2, 2023
Nearest, then her duel on Tuesday, Gauff playfully took the microphone from Shriver to enthusiastically announce Djokovic — entire with biographical data — to these in attendance earlier than his quarterfinal strike with American Taylor Fritz.
You heard Coco, Novak Djokovic is up then on the #USOpen 🎤 pic.twitter.com/Bw2arve7z5
— ESPN (@espn) September 5, 2023
Djokovic went directly to convincingly defeat Fritz in directly units to journey to his thirteenth semifinal in Fresh York and his forty seventh main semifinal — probably the most via a male participant in historical past. Pace he didn’t get the chance to yell out Gauff right through his post-match interview — even though he did top the family in a singalong of the Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right” — the 23-time main champion used to be effusive with proclaim latter age when talking to the media.
“I think things are coming together for her,” Djokovic stated. “She played really good tennis in Cincinnati and also she’s been playing well here. She’s got the home support, of course, which is always welcome and needed. …
“It takes once in a while, a couple of years for issues to return in combination the place you are feeling that you’re entire as a participant, that you’re able to win Slams and dominate the sport. I feel she’s coming very alike to that degree and that degree. So I’m positive that she has very top hopes for [the] US Discoverable and he or she will have to.”
Now that each avid gamers have reached the semifinals, they are going to now not be enjoying at the similar life once more. Gauff will then play games Thursday with a anticipation to succeed in the second one Slam ultimate of her profession, and Djokovic will play games Friday as he continues his quest to compare Margaret Courtroom’s all-time document for main titles. However their names may just eternally be connected in combination in the event that they each had been to win the titles this weekend.
