Tennis has given us some unforgettable love and friendship stories over the years. This time, the spotlight unexpectedly turned to Coco Gauff on Valentine's Day Eve with a playful response to Valentine's request from her good friend Ons Jabeur. During a lighthearted moment, Jabeur jokingly asked, "Would you be my Valentine?" Without missing a beat, Gauff laughed and replied, "Oh! Yes. I did choose Galentine's Day. I don't have anything for you, so the hug is for you. I saw somebody coming from the bushes. I was like, who the heck is jumping over? Thank you."
This fun twist on a classic celebration is dedicated to celebrating the bonds of friendship among women. Gauff and Jabeur have built a friendship that goes beyond the court.
And it gets even sweeter. Gauff's younger brother, Codey, is such a fan of Jabeur that he even calls himself "the Black Ons Jabeur." He tries to mimic Jabeur's signature drop shot, jokingly referring to his attempt as the "snake ball." Gauff shared that watching him play is like a mini tribute to the Tunisian star, adding a heartwarming family twist to the whole story.
What is Galentine's Day?
So, what exactly is Galentine's Day? It's an unofficial holiday celebrated on February 13, the day before Valentine's Day. Invented by Leslie Knope on the show "Parks and Recreation," the day is all about gathering with your girl squad, enjoying brunch, sharing laughs, and appreciating the support and love that only friends can offer.
Galentine's Day celebrates that special bond between women, whether it's a fancy outing or a cozy get-together. Coco's witty response at the Qatar Open shows that even in the competitive world of tennis, there's plenty of room for fun and friendship.
Coco Gauff's Friendship with Jessica Pegula
In 2024, Jessica Pegula discussed Gauff and her changes as she grew up and progressed as a tennis player. “I think she [Gauff] has definitely grown up a lot and matured over the last few years," said Pegula, 10 years Gauff's senior, per The Tennis Gazette. “She’s now much more sure of herself and knows what she wants. Also, she is hitting that age where you are learning all that stuff. You are trying to figure out what you want, how you want it, making more of your own decisions and we have seen that over the past year now," she concluded.
Pegula and Gauff played together at the Paris Olympics.