Coco Gauff explains why she was ‘a little bit worried’ heading into the 2025 United Cup
Coco Gauff looks to secure the United States their second United Cup title in three years.
There are few players in tennis with bigger star power than Gauff, who continues to impress with every year that goes by.
The American had another strong year on the WTA Tour in 2024, finishing the year as world number three.
At just 20 years of age, Gauff won her second WTA 1000 title, as she beat Karolina Muchova in China, to kick off a strong end to the year.
Gauff then won the WTA Finals to cap off a brilliant season, taking home the second-biggest title of her young career.
A great performance, and one that Gauff is looking to take inspiration from as she competes in the United Cup for the first time, although she has now admitted how she felt before making her tournament debut.
Coco Gauff admits she was ‘worried’ ahead of playing top 30 opponents at the United Cup
Speaking following Team USA’s 3-0 victory over Croatia at the United Cup, Gauff explained why she was worried before playing her first tournament of the year.
“Yeah, I was a little bit worried, like, having to start the season off against, like, tough opponents, but obviously I think I managed pretty well,” she said.
“Yeah, I can’t ask for anything else, definitely a productive start against two really great players.”
The world number three beat Leylah Fernandez in her opening match at this year’s United Cup before Gauff and Taylor Fritz beat Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the mixed doubles to seal the tie for Team USA.
The American then beat Donna Vekic in the opening match against Croatia, before she successfully teamed up with Fritz once more to secure their spot in the quarter-finals.
“I thought we both played solid singles, and then the mixed was a great match,” said Gauff.
“I think overall we played well, and hopefully we can keep this momentum throughout the rest of the tournament, especially tomorrow.”
Who will Coco Gauff and Team USA play in the 2025 United Cup quarter-finals?
Having won Group A, Team USA are set to take on the best-ranked second-placed team from ‘Perth’, China.
Gauff would have played Qinwen Zheng in a WTA Finals rematch, but will instead face off against Gao Xinyu, thanks to Zheng’s late withdrawal.
She may have been a last minute replacement, but Xinyu has so far proved to be a great addition to China’s ranks, winning both of her singles matches at the tournament.
Xinyu beat top 15 star Beatriz Haddad Maia and Laura Siegemund in the United Cup group stages, something that Gauff is more than aware of.
“Yeah, I watched a couple of her matches, and she’s having an incredible week,” said Gauff.
“I expect her to play loose, she has nothing to lose.
“Yeah, I feel I’m playing in good form too, so it’s going to be a fun one.”
Xinyu will look to record the biggest win of her career against Gauff on Wednesday, entering as a massive underdog against the world number three.
It’s safe to say that Xinyu will be up against it when she plays Gauff on New Year’s Day, but if she can carry her form through into the quarter-finals, she could well have a chance to pull off perhaps the greatest upset in United Cup history.
Gauff and Team USA will take on China in the last eight of the United Cup on January 1.
