Coco Gauff emerged as a key player for Team USA during their debut in the United Cup, leading the charge against Argentina with an impressive singles victory over Solana Sierra. She later partnered with Christian Harrison to clinch the decisive doubles match against the Argentine duo of María Lourdes Carlé and Guido Andreozzi.
Despite being the defending champions and widely regarded as one of the frontrunners for the title, the Americans found themselves facing stiff competition in their opening tie. After the match, Gauff reflected on the challenge of rallying support, expressing that Team USA often lacks the enthusiastic backing seen for smaller countries in international tennis events. “I feel like we’re definitely in the tennis department the worst when it comes to that,” the two-time Grand Slam champion noted, calling for increased American representation in support during matches.
Gauff indicated that the challenge may stem from the U.S. success in various sports, making it difficult for tennis to garner widespread attention. She remarked that while there appears to be a stronger presence of fans at tournaments outside the U.S., she hopes there will be better turnout in Sydney than in the previous year.
When questioned about whether the lack of crowd support might make Team USA feel like underdogs, Gauff quickly countered the notion, citing the Americans’ position as the top seeds and major favorites in the tournament. She acknowledged that the atmosphere varies from venue to venue and noted the support they received from non-Americans, emphasizing her desire for a greater representation of American colors in the stands during team competitions.
Gauff also shared insights on her approach to watching matches involving rivals, including world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who was competing in the Brisbane International. She expressed a genuine passion for the sport, stating, “I always watch tennis — I love watching tennis — but from a fan standpoint, not necessarily always scouting.”
Looking ahead, Team USA is scheduled to return to the court on January 5, where they will seek to advance to the quarter-finals against Spain. The team may be without Taylor Fritz, who is managing tendonitis following his match against Sebastián Báez. If Fritz is unavailable, Mackenzie McDonald is poised to take his place, with Gauff ready to potentially secure the USA’s spot in the next round by competing against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
With Gauff’s determination and talent leading the way, Team USA has a promising path ahead in the tournament, aiming to continue their title defense and foster a greater connection with tennis fans during the process.