Jessica Pegula laughed at Coco Gauff after embarrassing US Open moment

Jessica Pegula couldn't hold back her laughter at the 2023 US Open, after doubles partner Coco Gauff prematurely celebrated their first-round victory. Gauff would lift the women's singles title that year for the first time.

The 2023 US Open was a memorable one for a teenage Gauff, as she bested Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to become a Grand Slam champion for the very first time. While she exited this year's competition in the round of 16 to an inspired Naomi Osaka, she has suffered past embarrassment in New York. Pegula, a US Open finalist in 2024, teamed up with her fellow American in the women's doubles two years ago, and couldn't help but chuckle at Gauff's unfortunate blunder.

Gauff, who was 19 at the time, joined forces with Pegula and faced Elizabeth Mandlik and Quinn Gleason in the first round of the 2023 US Open women's doubles. The pair took the first with ease, winning it 6-2.

The second set was just as dominant, and the American duo raced into a 5-1 lead. However, when Gauff won the fifth point with a crushing forehand return, the teenager celebrated and went over to hug Pegula.

But the match was not yet won. The pair still had one more point to win, and Gauff looked incredibly sheepish when she realised she had tried to congratulate her partner prematurely.

The American slumped over and covered her mouth while giggling, whilst her partner, Pegula, couldn't help but break into a chuckle too. No harm was done, as both Gauff and Pegula would make it to the second round 6-2, 6-1.

When asked about the incident, Gauff told the courtside reporter: "Oh, I thought the match was over. I hit a great return and I went for a hug and Jess was like going away from me.

"I was like, 'Damn. Like what did I do?' I realized that the match wasn't over. There was no game, set, match so that was me, my mess up! We were playing so good so I thought it was over."

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Both Gauff and Pegula advanced to the quarterfinals of the women's doubles that year, where they were defeated in a tightly fought match against Wang Xinyu and Hsieh Su-wei. While Pegula, who was the No. 3 seed, exited the women's singles competition in the fourth round, Gauff went on to be crowned champion and shed light on her family's tears after the win.

"When I hugged my dad, I didn't see him, because he went immediately for the embrace - but I heard him crying. I have never seen that man cry in my life," admitted the American. "My mum, I knew she was going to cry regardless if I won or lost. Honestly [I was thinking] nothing. The whole time I was saying to myself, 'Oh my goodness, how is this real?"