Leylah Fernandez pays glowing tribute to Coco Gauff ahead of United Cup showdown

Leylah Fernandez is looking forward to her anticipated showdown against Coco Gauff at the 2025 United Cup. The 2021 US Open finalist recently paid a glowing tribute, touching on her American counterpart’s formidable presence.

Fernandez, who is representing Canada at the event, kicked off her 2025 campaign with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Croatia’s Donna Vekic on December 28. About her memorable start against the 2024 Olympic silver medalist, Leylah Fernandez said in her press conference:

"It definitely feels nice. To play against Donna, who has made the semifinals in Wimbledon and then silver in the Olympics, it's never easy it play someone who has that much confidence."

Although the 22-year-old gave Canada a 1-0 lead, Croatia drew level in the next match, with Borna Coric beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 0-6, 6-4, 6-4. The latter made a quick turnaround in the deciding mixed-doubles match with Fernandez, and Canada won the tie, with the pair beating Lucija Ciric Bagaric and Ivan Dodig 6-3, 6-4. They face Team USA, led by World No. 3 Coco Gauff and World No. 4 Taylor Fritz, on Sunday, December 29.

Ahead of her clash against Gauff, Fernandez noted that playing against the 2023 US Open champion is “never easy.”

"Playing against (Coco Gauff) is never easy. She's a tough opponent, great competitor," she said. "So hopefully we're going to have fun tomorrow and going to put on some good shows."

Sunday’s clash marks the pair’s first-ever tour-level meeting.

"That's also one of the reasons why I decided playing the United Cup. It's not only the team atmosphere, but I'll be able to play against the top players, see where my level is at, see what are the improvements I can do in the next couple of weeks before the (Australian Open)," Leylah Fernandez said.

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Coco Gauff plots revenge against Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime-led Canada at United Cup 2025

Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff pictured at the 2025 United Cup - Image Source: Getty

While this is Leylah Fernandez’s second United Cup stint, Coco Gauff has sacrificed her title defense at the ASB Classic to stage her debut at the 2025 event. About her decision to represent top-seeded Team USA at the United Cup, Gauff said in her press conference:

"For me I wanted to play a higher level of competition and also a team competition."

"I had a lot of fun with the Olympics. Basically a similar crew here today," she said of her team, which includes Taylor Fritz, Danielle Collins, Desirae Krawczyk, Denis Kudla, and Robert Galloway. "Yeah, just had a lot of fun. The season's already so much by ourselves that it's nice to mix it up."

Gauff, who concluded her 2024 season with a spectacular run to her maiden WTA Finals title, shared her high hopes about starting her 2025 campaign at the United Cup.

"I'm looking forward to hopefully having a good couple weeks here in Perth and hopefully in Sydney, as well."

Coco Gauff also conveyed that she is eyeing revenge against Canada in light of her and Taylor Fritz’s Paris Olympics loss. The American pair were knocked out of mixed doubles by Felix Auger-Aliassime and Gabriela Dabrowski in a closely contested 7-6 (2), 3-6, (10-8) quarterfinal battle.

"We all want to win. It's not an easy start to the first match of the year, playing (Leylah Fernandez) and (Felix Auger-Aliassime). But I think we're up, ready for it," she said. "At the Olympics we lost to Team Canada. Hopefully we can get a little bit of revenge for that."

Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime have previously led Canada to Billie Jean King Cup 2023 and Davis Cup 2022 victories, respectively. The latter also won the ATP Cup, representing his country in 2022. Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula-led Team USA were the maiden United Cup champions in 2023.