Coco Gauff has never been one to hide her feelings, and ahead of the 2026 United Cup, the American star offered a refreshingly honest take on fan support, one that quickly grabbed attention across the tennis world.
As the mixed-team tournament gets underway in Perth and Sydney from January 2-11, national pride is front and center. Yet when asked about the presence of American fans in Australia, Coco Gauff delivered a blunt assessment.
“I’ll be honest, no,” Gauff said when questioned about feeling support from U.S. fans in the stands. She didn’t hesitate to expand on her point, adding, “I feel like we’re definitely, in the tennis department, the worst when it comes to that.”
Coco Gauff calls out lack of American fan support abroad
Gauff explained that American tennis fans often struggle to show up for players competing overseas, especially when compared to supporters from smaller nations. “I’ve always said I wish our country in other places would show up throughout the world as we see maybe smaller countries support,” she noted, highlighting the loyalty she sees from other fan bases.
Still, the 20-year-old stopped short of turning the comment into outright criticism. She acknowledged the unique sports culture in the United States, saying, “I also think it’s just because of our country is good in so many sports, so it’s just hard.” With so many professional leagues competing for attention back home, tennis often finds itself fighting for the spotlight.
Looking specifically at Australia, Gauff pointed out subtle differences between cities. “I definitely think there are Americans that come out more in Melbourne than necessarily here,” she said, before adding a hopeful note: “But I would like to see some more Americans, if we make it to Sydney, in Sydney than there were last year.”
Team USA opens Group A play against Argentina and Spain, with Gauff set to face Solana Sierra while Taylor Fritz takes on Sebastián Báez. As defending champions, the Americans once again carry expectations-and the hope that fan support will follow.
Taylor Fritz believes team events favor the United States
Gauff isn’t alone in her thinking. Fellow American Taylor Fritz echoed her sentiments while also emphasizing why team competitions suit the U.S. so well.
“I think it plays to the strengths of our country,” Fritz said. “I think we have such amazing women’s players.” He pointed to the tournament format as a major advantage, adding, “The first year we had it with the top two men and top two women, I think that favors our country even more.”
The results back him up. The U.S. won the inaugural United Cup in 2023 and repeated the feat in 2025, with Gauff playing a starring role. Her straight-sets win over Iga Swiatek in the final proved decisive, while Fritz rebounded from an early loss to win four straight matches.
Now, with two top-10 players once again leading the way, the Americans enter as favorites. The only lingering question is whether fans will answer Gauff’s call and show up in force to help Team USA defend its crown on Australian soil.
Read the full article here
