United Cup: Gauff and Fritz Explore Rottnest Island Ahead of Sydney Showdown

Perth, Dec 26 (NationPress) The leading American tennis players Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff seized the opportunity to visit Western Australia's renowned Rottnest Island on the eve of the new tennis season, coinciding with the United Cup—a prominent mixed-gender team tournament that serves as a key precursor to the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open. The matches in Sydney will kick off on Saturday.

Fritz, currently ranked No. 4 in the ATP Rankings, and World No. 3 Gauff enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the island's stunning Basin, took selfies with the adorable native quokkas, and indulged in a famous 'Cray Dog', a lobster roll inspired by Western Australia.

Gauff was accompanied by her family, including her parents and younger brothers, Codey and Cameron. She expressed, "It's wonderful to have my family here. This is my first Christmas away from home, and it was essential for them to join me. They're on break, so experiencing a new part of the world is exciting!"

Fritz was a member of the U.S. team that clinched victory at the inaugural event in 2023. Meanwhile, Gauff, who concluded her 2024 season triumphantly at the WTA Finals, is making her debut in this tournament.

"This is actually my third visit to Perth as I participated in the ATP Cup here in 2020, so I'm quite familiar with the city and thrilled to return," noted Fritz, who wrapped up the 2024 season by reaching the ATP Finals championship match with an impressive 53-23 match record according to Infosys ATP Stats. "Coco and I have some experience playing mixed doubles at the Olympics, which should be beneficial for us."

Despite their top seed status, Fritz emphasized the need for the American team to prioritize immediate objectives. "We must concentrate on advancing from the group stage since we didn't manage that last year. We need to analyze the teams in front of us before planning too far ahead."

The action kicks off on Friday in Perth, where Kazakhstan will face Spain and China will compete against Brazil, followed by matches in Sydney. Both cities will host group-stage play and knockout quarterfinals, with the semifinals and finals exclusively in Sydney on January 4-5. The U.S. will play their first match on Sunday evening, featuring highly anticipated singles matches. Fritz will face Felix Auger-Aliassime, whom he leads 2-0 in their ATP head-to-head encounters, while Gauff will compete against former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.