Coco and Swiatek are the keys to their respective teams' victory

PERTH, WEDNESDAY – Competing in the mixed team tennis championship of the United Cup, Cori “Coco” Gauff and Iga Swiatek led their respective teams to victory. Coco propelled the United States to the semifinals, while Swiatek guided Poland to the quarterfinals.

The United Cup became the first tournament chosen by Coco and Swiatek in 2026 as part of their preparation for the Australian Open Grand Slam, January 18 – February 1. This championship features 18 teams competing in six groups during the preliminary round: three groups in Perth and three others in Sydney.

Coco, the fourth-ranked women's singles player in the world, is a mainstay for the United States Team alongside men's singles player, Taylor Fritz. In the United Cup, each match consists of men's singles, women's singles, and mixed doubles.

Coco led the United States to the semifinals in the competition in Perth, a step ahead of Swiatek and her colleagues from Poland who played their final Group F match in Sydney on Wednesday (7/1/2026). In Perth, Coco contributed two victories as the United States defeated Greece 2-1.

Coco defeated Maria Sakkari with a score of 6-3, 6-2 and won the mixed doubles match partnered with Christian Harrison in the third match. In the second match, Taylor Fritz lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 5-7.

"I am definitely playing better today and I am very happy to have put the team ahead. I have also forgotten about the previous match," said Coco.

Coco's comments were directed towards the match between the United States and Spain in the Group A qualifiers. Although the United States won 2-1, Coco lost to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The factor behind her defeat was poor serving, which has been Coco's weakness for some time.

The 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion must maintain her performance with the possibility of the US facing Poland in the semifinals in Sydney on January 10. If that happens, Coco will face Swiatek. Coco has won in their last three encounters, but Swiatek has a strong record in the United Cup as she has never lost.

In determining the quarterfinalists from Group F, Swiatek contributed a victory after defeating Suzan Lamens (Netherlands) 6-3, 6-2. Poland also secured victories through Hubert Hurkacz and Kataryzna Kawa/Jan Zielinski. In the quarterfinals, which will take place in Sydney on January 9, Poland will face the host country, which relies on the sixth-ranked men's singles player in the world, Alex De Minaur.

At the WTA 250 women's tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, the women's doubles match between two Indonesian players was won by Janice Tjen and American Caty McNally. They defeated Aldila Sutjiadi and Makoto Ninomiya 6-3, 5-7, 10-5. However, Tjen and McNally lost by walkover in the semifinals, where they were supposed to face Hanyu Gupo and Kristina Mladenovic.

At the WTA 500 Brisbane, two seeded players from the United States won their second-round matches. Amanda Anisimova (2) defeated Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 6-3, while Jessica Pegula (4) triumphed over Anna Kalinskaya 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. (AP)