Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula now face important battle ahead of the French Open

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Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula lead an American battle ahead of the French Open this year that could have a significant impact on the tournament.

Gauff is under a lot of pressure during the clay court season, as she is defending more points than any other player on the WTA Tour.

This includes at the Madrid Open, where Gauff reached the final for the first time last year.

Gauff suffered a disappointing fourth round defeat to Linda Noskova at this year’s tournament, which has caused her to drop down the rankings and now Pegula could make things even worse for her ahead of her French Open title defence.

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are battling to be the fourth seed at the French Open

Gauff was leading Noskova by a double break (4-1) in the deciding set, but was ultimately beaten by the Czech 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5).

This means that she will now be overtaken by another struggling player in Iga Swiatek, who retired from her third round match in Madrid.

Gauff will drop down to world number four after the Madrid Open, and she could be overtaken by Pegula ahead of the French Open.

The world number four ranking is particularly important for the French Open, as it means that you are guaranteed not to play the top two players (Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina) until at least the semifinals.

Whereas if defending French Open champion Gauff was to drop down the rankings then she could play Sabalenka or Rybakina in the quarters.

Gauff currently has a 613 point lead over Pegula, but she is defending a lot more points at the Italian Open, leaving only 25 points between them.

This essentially means that whoever goes further at the Italian Open will be the world number four and fourth seed at the French Open.

Where will Coco Gauff be ranked at the end of the 2026 season?

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Another American in Amanda Anisimova is also in the running for the world number four ranking, but there is currently some uncertainty surrounding the two-time Grand Slam finalist.

Anisimova withdrew from the Madrid Open due to a wrist injury, and has not played a match since the Miami Open last month.

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula’s previous results at the Italian Open

Gauff and Pegula are both on par ahead of the Italian Open, but they have very different previous results in Rome.

Despite being 10 years younger than Pegula, Gauff has actually made more appearances at the Italian Open.

She has also achieved better results in the Italian capital than Pegula, with Gauff winning 74% of her matches and reaching the final last year.

While Pegula has only won five of her nine previous matches, with her best result at the Italian Open coming in her first appearance in 2021 when she reached the quarterfinals.

Anisimova has also had mixed results at the Italian Open in the past, but has reached the quarterfinals before.

The main draw of the Italian Open women’s singles draw will begin on Tuesday, May 5, but seeded players will not play their first match until at least Thursday.