Coco Gauff has once again impressed at the United Cup, having just helped fire the USA into the semifinals.
Gauff won her quarterfinal singles and doubles matches against Greece, who the USA beat 2-1 to reach the last four.
They are the defending champions at the United Cup, which this year updated its mixed doubles timeout feature.
Each team can call for one 60-second timeout during the match, having previously only been able to do so on their own serve.
If you could change one rule in tennis what would it be and why?
Coco Gauff loves ‘cool’ timeout rule at the United Cup
Sharing her take on the timeouts, which are activated by pressing a large red buzzer in each Team Zone, Gauff said: “I mean, me personally, I think it’s cool.
“I liked it. Last year I think you could only use it on your serve, right? So I like that you can do it on anyone.
“Greece’s timing was interesting, but it worked. Yeah, I think it’s a cool feature. I would hope to see it in more United Cups.”
Upon activation, teams gather in the Team Zone to confer, before play resumes with a 25-second shot clock.
Coco Gauff hoping to take United Cup experience into Grand Slams
Gauff and her teammate Taylor Fritz, who lost his singles match against Greece, were also tasked with discussing the team format of the competition.
When asked if they think it is transferable to other Grand Slam preparation, or if it’s unique given that it takes place at the start of the season, Fritz said: “For me personally, I always love the team events.
“I like the fact… obviously as well I think it’s good because we’re all coming off of an offseason. Showing up here, you’re guaranteed to get the two matches obviously.
“If I’m playing somewhere else, I show up and lose that first match, I don’t get a chance to play again. Now I get to play another one.
“So it’s really good to start the year, but I mean, typically I am in favor of a lot of the team events. I think it’s a lot of fun.”
Pick your all-time dream United Cup squad!
Gauff added: “Yeah, I would agree. I think it’s great to start the year. I think the appeal is, for example, instead of leaving Perth on a bad note in that singles, I could play better today. Obviously the team format I think does create that pressure. Not only in singles, but in mixed.
“At the start of that tiebreaker I did feel the nerves for the first time this whole event, but yeah, I think it’s just feeling the nerves over and over again, and you learn how to I guess manage them.
“Yeah, hopefully I can be in a later stage of a Grand Slam and maybe feel those same nerves. I think thanks to the experience today, I’ll know how to manage them even better.”
Gauff is, of course, already a multiple Grand Slam champion, having won the US Open in 2023 and the French Open last season.
But she’s never made it beyond the semifinals of the Australian Open, while Fritz has only ever reached the quarterfinals.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
