SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, January 6, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Coco Gauff did not drop a single set in her five United Cup victories, which culminated in the United States winning its second mixed-teams title in three years with a 2-0 victory over Poland Sunday evening in Sydney. The talented American was rewarded with Most Valuable Player honors in her United Cup debut. Now, after her straight-set triumph over World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, she heads to Melbourne this week as one of the favorites to win the Australian Open.
The 20-year-old from Delray Beach, Florida begins the new season ranked No. 3 in the PIF WTA Rankings. A year ago, Gauff began the 2024 campaign by capturing a second straight Auckland title and won her first 10 matches overall before losing to eventual Australian Open titlist Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinal round.
This year, Gauff wanted a different atmosphere and challenge to start her season.
Digging DEEP @CocoGauff | #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/9nP2VHSF24
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 5, 2025
“I love Auckland. I won twice there. It was a great tournament,” Gauff said in Perth at the outset of the United Cup, where Team USA played its group matches against Canada and Croatia and its quarterfinal versus China, winning all of them, before heading to Sydney to play its final two ties.
“For me, I wanted to play a higher level of competition and also a team competition. I had a lot of fun with the Olympics,” she added. “The season’s already so much by ourselves that it’s nice to mix it up.”
After Gauff strung together five straight wins against Leylah Fernandez of Canada and Donna Vekic of Croatia in group play; Zhang Shuai of China in the quarterfinals; Karolina Muchova of Czechia in the semifinals and Swiatek in the title tie, she remarked: “It’s great to win a team event, the only team event I’ve ever won, so I’m super excited.”
CHAMPION SELFIE #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/4oPlMd7oly
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 5, 2025
Last season, Gauff compiled a win-loss record of 54-17, won three singles titles (Auckland 250, Beijing 1000, and Riyadh WTA Finals) and won more than $9.3 million (U.S. dollars) in prize money. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 2 on June 10. It was her most successful season since turning professional as a teenager in 2018. Gauff has been a Top-10 fixture since late in the 2022 season.
Now, with a career win-loss record of 229-99, Gauff hopes to build upon her success of winning her first major title at the US Open in 2023 and her first WTA Finals crown in 2024, where she defeated the World No. 1 (Sabalenka) and No. 2 (Swiatek) in the same event.
After she beat Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 in the United Cup final on Sunday for the second straight time – repeating her feat of besting the Polish superstar during the WTA Finals in November – it became apparent to many that Gauff had improved several facets of her game, specifically her serve and forehand. Credit Matt Daly, whom she added to her coaching team during the US Open last summer, for helping Gauff up her game. Throughout the United Cup, she dominated her opponents. Against Swiatek, she traded speed and power and showed she could compete with the former World No. 1.
“I think for me, I just realized the worst thing that could happen today was that I lose,” Gauff admitted. “Even in this format, if I lose, we still have a chance to win. I just told myself I’m going to give my best effort; that’s all the team can ask of me.”
TOO GOOD FROM GAUFF @CocoGauff | #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/KzgW6w3ueD
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 5, 2025
As it happened, Gauff hit four aces and won 74 percent of her first-serve points. Although her serve was broken three times, she broke Swiatek’s serve five times in eight tries and outpointed her opponent 70-60.
“Today I think I played some great tennis. I’m glad I was able to get a point for Team USA. It was tough today, I’m not gonna lie,” Gauff said during her on-court interview.
World No. 4 Taylor Fritz, Gauff’s teammate and mixed doubles partner, gave props to her afterward. “I really appreciate the competitor that Coco is,” he said. “She’s played so well all week and fought so hard in all the matches. I can really have a lot of respect for that.”
Feeling the love on her #UnitedCup debut – what a week for Team USA and @CocoGauff #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/cOdsrYqKVy
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 5, 2025
Now, Gauff arrives at the Australian Open with renewed confidence and a game that makes her one of the best in the WTA on a hard-court surface. She’s won 18 of her last 20 matches – all on hard courts. Against the current WTA Top 5, she’s 5-4 against No. 1 Sabalenka of Belarus; 3-11 versus No. 2 Swiatek (but has turned the tide by winning the last two meetings); 2-0 against No. 4 Jasmine Paolini of Italy, and 2-0 versus No. 5 Zheng Qinwen of China.
“I have the belief that I’m one of the best players in the world and when I play good tennis, I’m hard to beat,” Gauff said following her win over Swiatek, which set the stage for Fritz to clinch the United Cup title for the United States with his three-set victory over World No. 16 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.
USA ARE YOUR 2025 #UNITEDCUP CHAMPIONS pic.twitter.com/FUDfey6yNf
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 5, 2025
Later, during Team USA’s final news conference, a reporter asked Gauff how much confidence she has going into the Australian Open – especially after achieving back-to-back wins over Swiatek. Can she potentially win it?
“Honestly, before every Grand Slam, I have the belief that I can win, and especially after the US Open, I proved that I could do it. I definitely have belief that I can win,” she said.
“Obviously, this start of the season gives me a lot of confidence. I feel like when I’m playing confident tennis I’m playing great tennis. I definitely feel confident going into AO.”
