The 2025 United Cup campaign has started for Team USA and Coco Gauff has started her new season emphatically in a destructive win over Leylah Fernandez 6-3, 6-2 to have Team Canada chasing early on.
USA v Canada is the main tie of the day with wins already for Germany, Italy and Czech Republic as expected for the lead trio. Now it is time for USA to lead from the front and it was Gauff who did so.
USA are top seeds this week in the tournament which sees a Round Robin before they come together for the latter stages in Sydney. But due to being top seeds, they are one of a few who haven't started their campaigns until now.
With Fritz to follow against Auger-Aliassime, it was pivotal for USA to get off to a good start. Despite having the leading duo and Danielle Collins, they are perhaps not as strong as they could've been with Jessica Pegula not playing. Emma Navarro and Peyton Stearns also are not.
Neither are any of their leading male players aside from Fritz including Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Sebastian Korda among others but Gauff won in just over an hour and a half.
Gauff started superbly. She broke after converting a 40-30 lead in favour of Fernandez initially. She staved off break points to go 4-2 up before breaking again to conclude the set.
The second set was a break earlier on as she went 2-0 up and consolidated. It was more of an emphatic display as she barely let any points go on serve and broke agai to seal the win.
Usually Gauff would play the ASB Classic this time of year but has instead opted to represent the USA in their cause and they will be grateful to have her after this first display.
We see it but we don't believe it 🤯@CocoGauff | #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/KKG3hCFT3f
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 29, 2024
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
