(VIDEO) The new budding friendship as Coco Gauff and Eva Lys make TikTok videos together on night out in Madrid
WTA
While they might be rivals on the court, off the court many of the so-called new generation of WTA stars are friends and that includes a new budding friendship in Eva Lys and Coco Gauff.
As others posted on social media, imagine walking the streets and you stumble onto the current French Open champion and the rising German star. Albeit Lys was hilariously on photo duty as she took pictures of a group of Frenchman with Gauff and joked that she used Spanish in talking to them at the Madrid Open.
But both decided while they went on their night outs to film TikTok videos together posted on Gauff's TikTok. They have faced off once in their career at the end of last year won by Gauff 6-3, 6-4. Gauff will play on Thursday while Lys plays on Wednesday.
This comes after Gauff confirmed that they'd got to know each other during recent months on the tour. It is a big group of WTA stars who all seem to be friends including Alex Eala, Zeynep Sonmez, Victoria Mboko among others of all similar ages who despite being rivals up the top end of the sport are friends off it.
“Yeah, Eva Lys is a great player, great person,” Gauff said in her press conference in Stuttgart after practicing with her.. “Someone I got to know over the course since Australian Open. That’s been really cool. It’s our first time practicing together. Yeah, I think she’s a great player.
Lys winning fans on and off the court
“One thing I noticed today, she holds the baseline really well. She stands really close. Doesn’t really miss a lot from it. Strokes are super clean. She has a lot of potential.
“I think the main thing is making sure she stays healthy. But yeah, I think she can beat anyone on any given day. I think she’s proven that with her run in Australia, also United Cup. She had a pretty good United Cup, too.
“I think once she’s healthy and finds her form, we’ll see her in the top of the rankings for sure.”
Lys herself responded in kind as to whether it was a strength of her play. "Definitely. I feel like my court position is a strength in general,” responded Lys. “This is something I really try to work on a lot.
Eva Lys in press conference during Billie Jean King Cup play-offs
“Especially hitting with big players like Coco, I find it very hard to keep the position, so every time I get an opportunity and possibility to play or practice with players like that, it definitely helps my game.
“So for clay, this is one comment I get from so many players, How the hell are you staying that close to the, yeah, to the baseline?
“I have been playing like that my whole life. I feel like that’s also a reason why I feel very comfortable on hard court and on clay, because I also grew up on clay, and this is my way of playing. So I’m definitely trying to work on the strengths I have on that surface.”
Imagine, tu marches dans les rues de Madrid et tu vois Coco Gauff et Eva Lys en train de faire des TikTok. 😅pic.twitter.com/pBCKUp8lrh
— Tennis Legend (@TennisLegende) April 20, 2026
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- I, like writer of this wonderful article, also picked Noskova to win this entire thing. I would love it if she and Andreeva are in the final.Rapunzel12-11-2026
- "Priorities", Saba... spend less time in front of cameras, anti-Social Media, selfies and back to Tennis.
mandoist12-11-2026 - Tell this to Andreeva!mandoist12-11-2026
- Andreeva with 11 games in a row to add to Saba's downward spiral issue !!! Personal feelings aside... Jess Pegula may want to reassess her evaluation of Mirra's abilities.mandoist12-11-2026
- I predicted whenthe list was finalised that Linda Noskova would win the WTA Finals and her matches against Gauff and Kostyuk prove that. She is the best (underrated) player in the world!Rapunzel11-11-2026
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.mandoist09-11-2026
- Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!mandoist09-11-2026
- "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?mandoist09-11-2026
- Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.mandoist08-11-2026
- Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??mandoist08-11-2026
