Gauff rebounds to hand U.S. early United Cup lead
Coco Gauff silenced her serving demons with a commanding win over Maria Sakkari, propelling the United States ahead in a tense quarterfinal against Greece as the stakes rise in Perth.
Under the bright Perth sun at RAC Arena, Coco Gauff transformed a shaky start to the week into a dominant display. The World No. 4 overpowered Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 26 minutes, clinching a vital 1-0 lead for the United States in their United Cup quarterfinal tie against Greece. Fresh from a match riddled with service errors, Gauff’s clean execution set an aggressive tone ahead of the men’s singles between Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Her forehand sliced inside-out from the baseline, pulling Sakkari wide and opening the court for crosscourt backhands that skidded low on the hard surface. Gauff held serve effortlessly, mixing flat deliveries down the T with kick serves that jammed her opponent at the body. The Greek’s returns, usually a weapon, landed short, allowing the American to dictate rallies with heavy topspin loops that forced hurried errors.
“Definitely a much better match today,” Gauff said in her on-court interview. “Last match, I just tried to erase it. That’s the beauty of this tournament, and having a team like Taylor [Fritz] and Christian [Harrison] that gave me the chance to stay in the tournament and be able to prove myself better today. So definitely happy to give my team the lead today.”
Gauff sharpens serve for wire-to-wire control
Gauff landed 68 percent of her first serves, capturing 76 percent of those points with precise placement that neutralized Sakkari’s aggressive baseline game. Just two days earlier, 14 double faults had undermined her confidence; now, she trimmed that to six, using a one–two pattern of serve and forehand to break serve twice in the opener. The 21-year-old’s footwork shone as she redirected pace down-the-line, turning defense into offense amid the crowd’s rising cheers.
This efficiency stemmed from focused adjustments, her toss consistent even as the heat built on court. Sakkari, pressing with flat groundstrokes, found herself stretched, her errors mounting in longer exchanges where Gauff’s speed covered every angle. The victory extended Gauff’s head-to-head advantage to 6-5, a record built on her ability to adapt mid-match.
Sakkari stumbles amid promising early form
For Sakkari, the loss interrupted a strong tournament run that included triumphs over Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu. Entering 2026 at No. 52 after dipping from her former Top 5 heights, the 30-year-old Greek faced heightened pressure on a surface that exposed her flatter hitting against Gauff’s varied spin. Her powerful returns faltered on the quicker bounces, leading to unforced errors that handed the second set decisively.
Yet Sakkari’s week hinted at untapped potential, her groundstrokes carrying threat when Gauff’s first serve dipped. As the tie pivots to the men, Greece will lean on counterpunching depth to claw back. Gauff’s poise, though, injected belief into the American squad, where team support amplified her personal rebound.
Quarterfinal momentum favors U.S. push
The United Cup’s team format rewards quick resets, and Gauff embodied that resilience, her win pulsing energy through RAC Arena’s stands. With Fritz set to challenge Tsitsipas next, the 1-0 edge positions the United States for a semifinal charge, blending individual grit with collective drive. As 2026 unfolds on these sunlit hard courts, Gauff’s command signals deeper runs, where every hold builds toward the knockout drama ahead.
