Coco Gauff explains how she’s already prepared for her Australian Open third round match with Leylah Fernandez

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Coco Gauff has continued her unbeaten start to the 2025 season, after beating Brit Jodie Burrage in her second round match at the Australian Open.

Gauff has been unbeaten since the WTA Finals, winning her last nine consecutive matches.

The American began her season at the United Cup, with Gauff beating Iga Swiatek in the final to help USA win the title for a second time.

Due to her performances at the mixed team event, many picked Gauff to win the Australian Open and she has now moved one step closer to that becoming reality after beating Burrage in straight sets.

Coco Gauff prepared for Leylah Fernandez in the off-season

Gauff is now into the third round of the Australian Open, where she will play former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.

Although they had never played before the 2025 season, Gauff revealed that she had practiced with another left-handed player in Robin Montgomery to prepare for Fernandez ahead of their match at the United Cup.

“Yeah, I mean, I knew that I wanted to play with some lefties in the off-season because I knew it was going to be my first match,” Gauff said in her post-match press conference. “I guess I practised with Robin, and then there was a guy that I practiced with, lefty. Most of the time I have my hitter. He is righty. Unfortunately cannot hit lefty.

“Yeah, it was something that I wanted to prep for, just be ready for. I knew United Cup she was going to have – you know the schedule weeks beforehand. I knew she was going to have a match before she played me. I have to be ready because she will have a chance to work her way into things.

“I guess, I don’t know. We’ll see two days from now if it makes a difference or not. Obviously I did well at United Cup. It’s a different match, different story. Anything can happen.”

What happened between Coco Gauff and Leylah Fernandez at the United Cup?

In their first ever meeting at the United Cup, Gauff beat Fernandez in straight sets to help USA beat Canada.

This was not the only time that Gauff played her Canadian opponent in Perth, having also competed in a deciding mixed doubles rubber with Taylor Fritz against Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Fritz admitted to struggling against Fernandez in particular, but the American duo managed to come through with the win.

Gauff will play Fernandez again in her third round match at the Australian Open on Friday January 17.