Gauff eyes United Cup defense following productive off-season

World No. 3 Coco Gauff has arrived at Perth Airport to begin her 2026 tennis season, where she will lead Team USA in their quest to defend the United Cup title. The American star, who recently finished 2025 as the reigning Roland-Garros champion, expressed a mix of confidence and cautious optimism as she prepares for her first competitive matches of the new year.

Speaking to reporters upon her arrival, Gauff reflected on the importance of building momentum early in the Australian summer. “Last year I felt like it started off my season pretty strong, Gauff said. So looking forward to hopefully doing the same thing. But yeah, you never know what to expect at the start of the year. You know you’ve been practicing for a few weeks straight, so hopefully the things that I’ve been working on in practice can translate over.”

Gauff is scheduled to lead the top-seeded American squad in Group A of the United Cup at Perth’s RAC Arena. Team USA will open their campaign against Argentina on January 3, followed by a matchup against Spain on January 5. The tournament, which runs from January 2 to January 11 across Perth and Sydney, features a mixed-team format of one men’s singles match, one women’s singles match, and a mixed doubles rubber.

Gauff and Fritz together again

Team USA arrives in Perth with a slightly different roster than the squad that lifted the trophy in 2025. While Gauff and Taylor Fritz return as the leading singles players, the supporting cast has seen several changes. The 2026 Team USA lineup consists of Coco Gauff, Varvara Lepchenko, and Nicole Melichar-Martinez for the WTA side, while Taylor Fritz, Mackenzie McDonald, and Christian Harrison represent the ATP. Michael Russell continues his role as the team captain.

In contrast, the 2025 championship team featured Gauff, Danielle Collins, and Desirae Krawczyk for the women, alongside Fritz, Denis Kudla, and Robert Galloway for the men.

During the last edition of the United Cup, Gauff was named tournament MVP after going undefeated with a 5-0 record in singles. Her most notable performance came in the final in Sydney, where she defeated Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 to help secure the trophy for the United States alongside Taylor Fritz. However, her Australian Open campaign later that month ended in the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-4 loss to Paula Badosa.

Coco Gauff’s arrival at Perth Airport marks the conclusion of a significant final quarter for the 21-year-old. After a season that saw her claim a second Grand Slam title at Roland-Garros, the American is looking to rebound from the WTA Finals in Riyadh, where her title defense ended in the round-robin stage with a 1-2 record.

Gauff confirmed for the 1 Point Slam

Since her final match in Saudi Arabia, Gauff has focused on both high-profile personal activities and a specialized pre-season training block. In mid-November, she maintained her off-season tradition by attending Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in Los Angeles with her boyfriend Jalen Sera. This break preceded an intensive training period centered on technical stability.

Her current coaching structure reflects a shift made late in the 2025 season. After parting ways with Matt Daly in August, Gauff is now working with core coach Jean-Christophe Faurel and biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan.

Looking ahead to the Australian summer, Gauff is confirmed to participate in the inaugural 1 Point Slam exhibition in Melbourne that will take place on January 14, 2026, during the Australian Open opening week, meaning her competitive season officially begins this week in Perth.