Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz and Danielle Collins excited for team competition at United Cup: “Perfect way to start the year”
Tennis News
Team USA is gearing up for the United Cup with some of its biggest stars, including Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, and Danielle Collins. As the top seeds in their third appearance at the tournament, they aim to improve on their 2023 result, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
In previous editions, the Americans fielded Fritz alongside Jessica Pegula. This year, Gauff and Collins are preparing to make their tournament debuts.
Team USA ready to shine at United Cup
On December 29, Team USA will face Canada. In the first match, Gauff will take on 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez, followed by Fritz facing Felix Auger-Aliassime. If needed, a mixed doubles match will be played, with Collins, Denis Kudla, Robert Galloway, and Desirae Krawczyk as potential participants.
The next day, the Americans will face Croatia. Fritz will open against Borna Coric, followed by Gauff against Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic. The group winner will advance to the second round, determined by the results of all three ties, including Croatia versus Canada, which opens the group. Additionally, the second-placed team from each city—including Perth, where two other groups are competing—also has a chance to advance.
Danielle Collins recently spoke about her decision to join the United Cup, highlighting her excitement about returning to a team event. "Yeah, I mean, after the Olympics, we just had to get the fam back together. We had a good run there, had a great time with the same crew. It was a no-brainer after talking to everybody about coming back this year and kicking it off here in Perth," Collins said.
Coco Gauff also expressed her enthusiasm for the team format: "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. Basically a similar crew here today. The season's already so much by ourselves that it's nice to mix it up. I'm looking forward to hopefully having a good couple weeks here in Perth and hopefully in Sydney, as well.”
Similarly, Fritz praised the opportunity to start the season with team camaraderie. "I feel like I play well in team events. They're also just really fun to kind of have that team energy. Like Coco said before, playing the whole year basically by ourselves, it's nice to change it up... It's a great event. Perfect way to start the year," he commented.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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