Coco Gauff and Frances Tiafoe are two of the most popular names in American tennis, thanks to their many successes in recent years.
American tennis is in a great place as we approach the 2025 season, thanks to some big performances from the top stars on the ATP and WTA Tours.
Gauff won the US Open in 2023 as a teenager, and whilst it had looked as if she was struggling to match that form during the early parts of the season, she pushed on to achieve great things in recent months.
She took home the second biggest title of her career in Riyadh, as Gauff won the WTA Finals, taking down Jessica Pegula, Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Qinwen Zheng on her way to the title.
Tiafoe similarly impressed in the men’s game as he continued to save his best performances for the big occasions.
For the second time in three years, Tiafoe reached the US Open semi-finals, before losing to fellow American Taylor Fritz in five sets.
Two huge talents, that one of America’s future WTA stars has recently revealed her relationship with.
Robin Montgomery says Frances Tiafoe is ‘like an older brother’ to her
Speaking in an interview with Clay Tennis, world number 117 Robin Montgomery spoke about her history with Gauff.
“We are friends,” she said.
“When we see each other at tournaments we talk, we go out to dinner, that’s pretty much it, but I’d say we’re friends.
“You grew up together, both chasing similar goals since young.
“I’ve known her since I was 9, we had our first USTA camp together, so we’ve known each other for a long time.”
The pair have played each other just once in their careers to date, as Gauff comfortably beat Montgomery 6-3, 6-3, in San Diego two years ago.
The 20-year-old went on to describe her relationship with world number 18 Tiafoe.
“I consider him like an older brother to me,” she said.
“Probably got close when I was around 13, and yeah, talk to him on the phone here and there.
“When we go back to [Washington] DC, we always have a good time.”
Ever the entertainer, Tiafoe provides some good balance to Montgomery’s focused nature.
“Yeah, it’s fun,” said the American.
“I mean, he’s an absolute clown, but it’s always fun to spend time with him.
“It loosens me up a little bit because we’re like polar opposites, I’d say, in how we go about things in our day to day.
“So he always tries to make me smile and laugh, it’s always fun being around him.”
How good is Robin Montgomery and what can fans expect from her in 2025?
Montgomery rose almost 100 places in the world rankings this year, as she pushed forward with some impressive results.
A former Junior Grand Slam champion at the US Open back in 2021, the 20-year-old secured her first win at a Major tournament this year.
Having advanced through three rounds of qualifying at Wimbledon, she came up against Australian talent Olivia Gadecki in her first main draw Slam match of the season.
Looking like she belonged right away, Montgomery breezed past her fellow qualifier 6-3, 6-3, as she booked her place in the second round.
There she came up against two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur, who put an end to the American’s run at SW19 as she won 6-1, 7-5.
Her performance at Wimbledon amongst other strong results during the American hard court swing saw her ranking shoot up, leaving her just outside the top 100 as we head into the new year.
Montgomery’s ranking isn’t quite high enough to see her qualify directly for the 2025 Australian Open, but she will no doubt do her best to advance to the main draw via qualifying.
Qualifying for the 2025 Australian Open is set to begin on January 9.
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