Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula in stitches after calling for VAR at US Open
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were left laughing after they called for VAR to be used in their doubles match at the US Open. Pegula had been involved in a back-and-forth exchange at the net when the umpire called a foul shot as she and Gauff immediately requested a video review.
Fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium were treated to a bonus day session match on Monday when Gauff and Pegula’s clash against Marta Kostyuk and Elena-Gabriela Ruse was moved there following Carlos Alcaraz’s straight-set victory.
And both teams put on a show from the get-go, with Pegula and Kostyuk becoming embroiled in a back-and-forth exchange at the net in the opening game when the umpire interjected and called a foul shot, as she saw the ball bounce twice off of the American’s racket. The third-seeded pair asked for the new VAR system to be used and stood at the baseline waiting to watch the replay.
The 19-year-old apologised after calling for a replay of the footage, not realising it would take a few minutes to set up and review. “Sorry, I didn’t know it was going to take this long,” she smiled. “It’s my first time doing this.”
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When the replay finally flashed up on screens around the court – and behind Gauff and Pegula – it became clear that the ball bounced twice on the 29-year-old’s racket as she attempted to return one of Kostyuk’s flying balls at the net. The Americans could only laugh as they watched back the footage, with their opponents joining in.
The umpire’s call stood as the Ukrainian-Romanian duo were awarded the point and they went on to hold serve. But Gauff and Pegula raced to take the next five games in a row with a double break, with the world No 1 doubles ranking on the line.
Pegula served for the set at 5-2 and had two set points but Ruse and Kostyuk were able to stay alive as they broke back. It was Gauff who stepped up to try and close out the set for a second time and this time the third seeds got it done, taking a 6-4 lead after saving a break point.
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The match marks Pegula’s second of the day on Arthur Ashe Stadium as she suffered a disappointing defeat to countrywoman Madison Keys in the round-of-16. Also the third seed in the singles draw, the 29-year-old lasted just 61 minutes as she crashed out 6-1 6-3.
But Pegula is still alive in the mixed doubles with Austin Krajicek, as well as the women’s doubles with Gauff. As for her partner, the 19-year-old booked her spot in the quarter-final of the singles event for the second straight year with a win over Caroline Wozniacki.
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