Serena Williams, Coco Gauff (Image via X/Taylor Swift Charts+, Jimmie48 Photography)

Serena Williams‘ victory, is the victory of all female athletes, believes retired Olympic track athlete Allyson Felix, who wrote the foreword for TIME’s Most Influential People of 2025. Williams earned herself a spot on the publication’s yearly cover for 2025.

Coco Gauff, who grew up watching Williams, wasn’t surprised at all seeing Williams’ name in the magazine. Gauff is in Stuttgart, where she breezed past Germany’s Ella Seidel to book herself a spot in the quarterfinals. After her win, Gauff made her feelings known about Williams being chosen as one of TIME’s most influential people of 2025.

Most influential people of all time, I mean, that’s an incredible accomplishment that she definitely deserves. She probably influenced millions, and I’m one of them. Not only in tennis but worldwide, just to be strong women and especially women of color. It’s well-deserved. I wasn’t surprised when I saw that. Her photos looked really good.

Coco Gauff said (H/T: Tennis Channel)

Williams was pregnant when she won the 2017 Australian Open, her last Grand Slam title. Despite a difficult childbirth experience, she made her comeback and played until the 2022 US Open, where the 43-year-old finally bade farewell to tennis.

Jessica Pegula shares why she won’t pair up with Coco Gauff for doubles

Jessica Pegula is also playing in the Stuttgart Open and moved into the quarterfinals after knocking out Magdalena Frech without breaking any sweat. She could schedule a clash with Coco Gauff if both of them reach the final. Pegula used to play doubles with Gauff and enjoyed good results, but now, the 31-year-old doesn’t see herself joining the 21-year-old for doubles again.
Jessica Pegula (Image via X/CGTN Sports Scene)

At the same time, we were doing well in singles, so obviously, we didn’t want to play doubles as much anymore. The schedule becomes very, very tough. I have hardly played doubles this year, probably won’t play any of the Grand Slams this year in that category. I don’t think I will play any of the Grand Slams in doubles because the schedule is very tough.

Jessica Pegula said in the pre-tournament press conference

Pegula is scheduled to lock horns with Ekaterina Alexandrova on Saturday (April 19), while Gauff has set up a clash with two-time Grand Slam singles finalist Jasmine Paolini on the same day.

While Gauff is searching for her first title of the season, Pegula is bidding on her third. Prior to the Stuttgart Open, Pegula reached the finals of four hard-court tournaments, including the Miami, which she failed to win due to her defeat to World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.

If Pegula meets Gauff in the final, it will be their seventh encounter on the tour. Pegula holds a 4-2 lead in the head-to-head record. But en route to the final, Gauff, in the semifinals, could lock horns with Sabalenka, who is bidding to win her third clay-court title of her career and her third title of the season following her successful run at the Brisbane International and the Miami Open.

Pegula, on the other hand, is projected to meet four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek, who is yet to reach a final since lifting last year’s clay-court Major. The five-time Grand Slam champion is expected to end her trophy drought on the clay swing.

Jessica Pegula reclaims No.3 spot from Coco Gauff

After winning the Charleston Open, Jessica Pegula toppled Coco Gauff to become American No.1 and a World No.3. Gauff, who last won a title at the 2024 WTA Finals, failed to win more than two matches in the four tournaments she has played after her quarterfinal run at the Australian Open.
Jessica Pegula (Image via X/Charleston Open)
Pegula has 6101 points in the rankings table, but the gap between the third and fourth positions is not huge. The 2023 US Open champion will remove Pegula from the third position if she ends up winning the Stuttgart Open as she has 6063 points.