World No. 3 Coco Gauff is once again the talk of the tennis world as she prepares to launch her 2025 U.S. Open campaign at the iconic USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. After capturing the 2023 U.S. Open and adding a second Grand Slam title to her name, Gauff now sets her sights on a potential third, entering the tournament as one of the favorites and a beacon of hope for American tennis fans. Yet, as the buzz builds around her singles run, Gauff’s off-court interests and recent decisions have also captured plenty of attention, making her journey to Flushing Meadows all the more intriguing.
Gauff’s opening match is scheduled for Monday, August 25, 2025, where she’ll face off against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic. The anticipation is palpable, as fans wonder if the young star can once again rise to the occasion and deliver another unforgettable performance on home soil. But this year’s U.S. Open storylines extend far beyond the baseline, thanks to Gauff’s candid social media presence and her well-documented love for reality TV.
In a charming twist, Gauff has openly shared her enthusiasm for Love Island USA, engaging with the show’s fandom throughout the latest season and even revealing her favorite contestants. She’s particularly fond of Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberge—better known as "Nicolandria"—as well as Chelley Bissainthe, all of whom have captured the hearts of viewers nationwide. Gauff’s social media interactions have been a delight for fans, with Olandria herself commenting, “I heard you were a Nicolandria Stan [Coco Gauff]. I love you queen!” to which Gauff replied, “Huge stan!!! I was defending you guys down! Lol thanks to US Open for shooting my shot for me. Would love to have you guys at a match! And of course Queen Chelley as well.”
The possibility of seeing some of the Love Island USA cast in the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium is now more than just a dream. The cast was recently in New York City for the reunion special and a flurry of media appearances, making a courtside cameo to support Gauff entirely plausible. For fans of both tennis and reality television, this crossover could add a new layer of excitement to the already electric atmosphere at the U.S. Open.
While Gauff’s off-court interests have kept her in the spotlight, her on-court decisions have also sparked conversation—especially her absence from this year’s U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament. The revamped mixed doubles event, held over two days in the week leading up to the main draw, featured a new Fast 4 format: sets were won by the first team to reach four games, with a tiebreak at 4-4, except for the final, which reverted to the traditional first-to-six-games rule. Despite the innovative approach, the tournament drew criticism for the lack of doubles specialists and the condensed schedule.
Defending champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori ultimately claimed the mixed doubles crown, defeating the formidable pairing of Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud in a final that drew plenty of eyeballs. In fact, more than 78,000 fans attended the mixed doubles matches, a testament to the growing popularity of the event—even if some purists questioned the new format.
Gauff’s absence did not go unnoticed. As one of the sport’s brightest stars and a proven doubles threat, many wondered why she wasn’t in the draw. Gauff addressed the situation head-on in a pre-tournament press conference, explaining, “I definitely watched it. I did have some FOMO (fear of missing out). I love mixed doubles, and I did the one-set format last year with Ben, which was really fun.” She continued, “I just had so much sponsor stuff this week, so I was just like I knew from the beginning that it wasn’t going to be a possibility for me.”
Her candor resonated with fans, as did her competitive spirit. “I’m someone who likes to win, and I’m locked in if I’m doing something. I knew I would try to be as locked in with that. I thought it was really cool and it was great to see the mixed doubles get the recognition that it needs,” Gauff said. She also offered some constructive criticism, suggesting that the format could be tweaked in the future: “And yeah, I definitely think the format was great, but I definitely think for next year there can be some changes, maybe with the entry, just allow more doubles specialists to compete.”
Gauff’s doubles pedigree is well established. She captured the 2024 French Open doubles title alongside Katerina Siniakova and reached the semifinals of mixed doubles at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships with Jack Sock. While she’s left the door open for a future appearance in U.S. Open mixed doubles, Gauff acknowledged the unique challenges posed by the New York tournament. “I’m never going to shut anything down. There’s definitely a possibility for me to play in the future,” she said. “New York is always tough for me. But if other slams catch on, I feel like it will be a little bit easier there.”
Her comments reflect a broader reality faced by many top singles players: balancing a jam-packed schedule of singles, doubles, sponsorship obligations, and media appearances—especially in a city as bustling as New York—is no easy feat. Still, Gauff’s willingness to engage with fans and her openness about her decision-making process have only endeared her further to the tennis community.
As the 2025 U.S. Open gets underway, all eyes will be on Gauff as she takes her first steps toward another potential Grand Slam triumph. Will her off-court fandom bring extra energy to the stands? Can she channel the momentum from her previous victories and navigate a draw stacked with talent and ambition? One thing’s certain: the spotlight will be firmly fixed on Coco Gauff, both for her electric play and her vibrant personality.
With the main event about to kick off and New York abuzz with tennis fever, Gauff’s journey promises to be one of the defining stories of this year’s U.S. Open. Whether she’s rallying on the court or rallying her favorite reality stars to the stands, Coco Gauff continues to captivate—and the tennis world will be watching every moment as her campaign unfolds.
