“Perfect mix of pressure and having fun”: Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz set sights on back-to-back United Cup titles

The defending champions, the United States, are preparing for their debut in the United Cup this Sunday in Perth, facing Argentina. The Americans will once again have Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz as the leaders of a team aiming to repeat the success they achieved in 2023 and 2025.

The USA won the first edition of the tournament in 2023, with Jessica Pegula paired with Fritz. They repeated as champions in 2025, this time with Gauff as the American leader, winning all five of her singles matches throughout the tournament and playing a key role in the USA’s triumph—especially her straight-sets victory over Iga Swiatek in the final.

Fritz, on his side, recovered from an early loss to Félix Auger-Aliassime in the tournament’s first day and then won four consecutive matches, including victories over Borna Coric, Tomas Machac, and Hubert Hurkacz along the way.

“I think it plays to the strengths of our country,” Fritz said at a press conference in Perth. “I think we have such amazing women’s players. Coco’s first year was just last year, and obviously we won it beforehand as well. The first year we had it with the top two men and top two women, I think that favours our country even more in that kind of format. It’s great to just feel like we have such a strong team all throughout. For me personally, I’ve always felt like I play a lot better in the team competitions.”

For the second consecutive year, the Americans enter as favorites, being the only team with two top-10 players in their lineup, just as in 2025. Last year, Fritz was world No. 4 and Gauff No. 3, while this year Fritz has dropped to No. 6, with Gauff remaining at No. 3.

In the 2024 final, the Americans defeated Poland—who were playing their second consecutive final with a near-unbeatable duo in Swiatek and Hurkacz—relying on the experience of three consecutive editions together. However, the Americans prevailed with consecutive wins from Gauff and Fritz, the latter winning in a third-set tiebreak.

“It was a really cool moment to clinch that, with the occasion as well, in a third-set tiebreaker, and for the United Cup,” Fritz recalled regarding the nearly three-hour match against Hurkacz. “I think winning in the team events is always more fun, because you have the whole team to kind of celebrate with afterwards.”

Gauff also recalled how her first year in the competition helped her gain confidence in what turned out to be a great year, winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open and finishing in the top 3 for the third consecutive year.

“Coming off preseason and being able to start the year in a team environment, it’s like the perfect mix of pressure and having fun,” Gauff said. “Last year I remember being super nervous because I didn’t want to let anyone down, but I was able to come out of that and do pretty well. I’m hoping to be able to do the same.”

The Americans will debut this Sunday against Argentina, who come off a decisive 3-0 victory over Spain. Fritz will open the first match against former world No. 18 Sebastián Báez (No. 43), leading the team in the absence of Francisco Cerúndolo. In the second match, Gauff will face 21-year-old Solana Sierra (No. 66).

In mixed doubles, Fritz and Gauff are expected to pair again to take on Argentina’s specialists María Lourdes Carlé and Guido Andreozzi, as they look to assert dominance in the opening tie of the 2026 season.