Why Coco Gauff is snubbing $1M U.S. Open event | Sports News

Some of the best tennis gamers on the planet will compete within the revamped combined doubles championship on the U.S. Open, however World No. 2 Coco Gauff has defined why she rejected an invitation.

The combined doubles championship, which takes place the week earlier than the primary singles draw begins, will characteristic stars resembling Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Venus Williams. Naomi Osaka has additionally been handed a wild card entry to associate with Gael Monfils, and Jannik Sinner has discovered a new patner after Emma Navarro pulled out.

The 16-team area has a prime prize of $1 million, however Gauff did not wish to waste mental power earlier than the ladies’s singles draw. Gauff additionally highlighted the continued controversy, as U.S. Open organizers have acquired backlash for alienating common doubles groups.

While combined doubles has been half of the U.S. Open since 1892, elite singles gamers not often take the competitors significantly, and a few do not compete in any respect. The U.S. Open has tried to draw more followers by saying star partnerships.

Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, the defending U.S. Open combined doubles champions, have been included within the 16-team area. However, different notable groups have been snubbed and changed with an All-Star roster.

This was one of the the reason why Gauff declined an invitation. “I’m honoured that they asked me to play,” Gauff stated on the Cincinnati Open. “It’s going to be great, it’s going to be fun, and the fans will really enjoy it.

“At the identical time, how they went about it, I didn’t suppose was actually great… You guys went rogue and adjusted the format and didn’t inform anyone. You simply did it. Did you discuss to the gamers? Did you get their enter?”

Another reason was Gauff’s energy levels, as she wants to focus all her attention on the singles draw. “For me, it was simply because I do know the free week of the U.S. Open is already packed for me, for sponsor issues, and it was identical to a entire different factor,” Gauff added.

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“And I’m very aggressive; if I have been to lose, I’d not be glad… So, I didn’t wish to waste mental power on that.

“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… I just knew it wasn’t going to work out for me, scheduling-wise.

“I plan my sponsor weeks actually like a yr out, generally a yr and a half out. And when this entire factor was coming up, I used to be already booked and busy.”

Gauff gained the 2023 U.S. Open and her second Grand Slam earlier this yr after beating Aryna Sabalenka within the French Open ultimate. However, she has struggled since getting into the grass season.

The 21-year-old suffered a shock first-round defeat at Wimbledon and had untimely exits in Montreal and Cincinnati. However, the final time Gauff misplaced within the first spherical of Wimbledon, she gained the U.S. Open.