Coco Gauff beats Iga Swiatek to put Team USA ahead 1-0 in United Cup final

Coco Gauff came out swinging at the United Cup in Sydney on Sunday, defeating Iga Swiatek, 6-4, 6-4, to put Team USA ahead 1-0 in the final of the international team competition.

Having lost 11 of her first 12 meetings against Swiatek, Gauff seems to have wrestled control of their head-to-head in recent months, this being her second straight win over the Pole—she also beat her in the round-robin stage of the WTA Finals in November.

Gauff was asked afterwards how she’s managed to turn the tables in their head-to-head. “I think just confidence,” she replied. “I have the belief that I’m one of the best players in the world, and when I play good tennis it’s hard to beat me, and today I think I played great tennis. And I’m happy to get a point for Team USA.”

And there’s more.

With her latest victory over the world No. 2, Gauff has now won her last five matches in a row against Top 10 players, and more specifically her last three matches in a row against Top 2 players.

COCO VS TOP 2 PLAYERS SINCE NOVEMBER 2024:
d. No. 2 Swiatek in ’24 WTA Finals RR, 6-3, 6-4
d. No. 1 Sabalenka in ’24 WTA Finals SFs, 7-6, 6-3
d. No. 2 Swiatek in ’25 United Cup F, 6-4, 6-4

There were early signs it was going to be a good day for Gauff, as she snuck out an early break in the second game and found herself serving up 2-0, 30-0. Swiatek sprung into action from there, winning the next four points in a row to get the break right back, holding for 2-all, then breaking for 3-2—but Gauff retaliated, winning four of the next five games to pocket the first set.

After four straight holds to start the second set, Swiatek broke then held to open up a 4-2 lead—but once again Gauff came storming back, reeling off the last four games to close it out.

Taylor Fritz and Hubert Hurkacz took the court shortly afterwards for the second singles match of the championship tie.