The Net and Women’s Rankings

A few years ago, a pair of now terrific players did not go into the net much — even while playing doubles together. But this year, they became much better and now are the No. 1-ranked team in the doubles.

And in the singles, they have both reached the top 4, with Jessica Pegula winning her first WTA 1000 at Guadalajara in 2022 and the 19-year-old Coco Gauff winning her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.

Doubles and Singles

Playing doubles has helped them in singles as bit by bit, they have become better at approaching the net and putting away the ball. Spanish coach Pere Riba, who worked with Gauff until recently, likes that they play doubles as much as they can.

“To play with one partner like Jessica Pegula that has a lot of experience, Coco is still in a process that is 19 years old. She needs to continue improving, continue evolving,” he has said. “The key is that she is open to improve. I think playing doubles with Pegula has helped in her development.”

Neither is going to start serving and volleying on every ball or rushing forward every point — their net play…