Jessica Pegula follows doubles partner Coco Gauff's lead on Day 2 of Wimbledon

Jessica Pegula opened her 2024 Wimbledon campaign on Day 2 following in the steps of her compatriot and doubles partner, Coco Gauff.

As World No. 2 Gauff defeated fellow American Caroline Dolehide on Day 1 in straight sets, World No. 5 Pegula similarly defeated young American Ashlyn Krueger on Day 2.

Playing in the early rounds of a Grand Slam is tricky, especially against fellow Americans. Players know each other well, and anything can happen on the slick grass courts at the beginning of the week. Pegula was lucky to conclude her match before the rains came and suspended play early on Day 2.

At long last, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff will compete in doubles on Day 3

Going into the season, everyone knew the doubles partnership between Pegula and Gauff would likely conclude after the 2024 Paris Olympics so that each player could focus on singles. What we could not predict is how much Pegula would be out of tennis in the early months of the season. The result was the former top-ranked doubles pair barely played.

Pegula and Gauff withdrew from the Australian Open doubles competition after Pegula's first-round loss in singles. Pegula did not play the WTA's Middle Eastern hardcourt swing in February where she and Gauff previously experienced great success or during the European clay court swing when Gauff partnered with different players before her fortuitous first-time partnership with Katerina Siniakova resulting in her maiden Grand Slam doubles title at the French Open.

Pegula and Gauff could be rusty; they played only three tournaments together this year. At two of those events (Miami where they were defending champions and Berlin), they lost in the first round. The only tournament the pair made a run was at Indian Wells where they advanced to the quarterfinals. They are seeded 11th at Wimbledon.

Gauff and Pegula remain the USA's best hope for winning a ladies' doubles gold medal in Paris in a few weeks, and fans would love to see them finally win a Grand Slam together too. In the meantime, both keep their dream of winning a maiden Wimbledon singles title alive by advancing to Round 2.