Gauff Crushes Fernandez To Mark United Cup Debut And Give USA Lead
News
Coco Gauff marked her United Cup debut with a really impressive win over Leylah Fernandez to give her country a crucial lead.
The 20-year-old American player chose a different approach to the start of her 2025 season. In the previous two seasons, she traveled to New Zealand to compete at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
She won the last two editions and was a two-time defending champion at the WTA 250 tournament, but in 2025, Gauff chose not to travel to New Zealand but instead compete at the United Cup alongside her compatriot Taylor Fritz, who she played mixed doubles at the Olympics with.
Explaining her move prior to the tournament, the World No. 3 player stated that she wanted to face higher-ranked opposition, and that was certainly the case in her first match.
Her first opponent was a fellow US Open finalist, even though in her case unsuccessful, Leylah Fernandez. The World No. 31 player was certainly a proper test for Gauff at the start of the new season, and she passed it with flying colors.
Prior to the meeting with Canada, Gauff dismissed the importance of rivalry, explaining that in tennis, it doesn't really matter which country her opponents come from.
After she stepped onto the court in Perth's RAC Arena, Gauff made it clear that she came to win. The United States is the top-seeded nation in the draw, with the WTA World No. 3 and ATP World No. 4 players representing the nation.
Although the 20-year-old player couldn't use her break point in the opening game of the match, she broke a couple of games later, leading 2-1 and confirming the break with a hold of serve to lead 3-1.
At 3-2, Gauff faced the only two break points she faced during the entirety of the match, saving both to maintain her one-break advantage and lead 4-2.
She was able to add another break of serve when Fernandez was serving to stay in the set, with Gauff winning the opening set of the tie between the United States and Canada 6-3.
In the second set, Gauff was even more impressive. She didn't have to face a single break point while creating plenty of break point chances herself.
Fernandez was impressive in her first match at the United Cup against Donna Vekic, not facing a single break point in the match. With Gauff working her way to a total of six break points against the Canadian, she once again proved her returning qualities.
After breaking her opponent's serve twice in the second set, Gauff won it even more easily than the first one, winning the match 6-3, 6-2 to seal her opening win of the new season and the first win for the United States at the 2025 United Cup.
Now, Taylor Fritz will step onto the court to take on Felix Auger-Aliassime. If he wins the match, the United States will win the tie. If he doesn't, Gauff might need to return for the mixed doubles match.
