Gauff Dominates Sakkari to Give USA 1-0 Lead Over Greece in United Cup Quarterfinal

Fritz Set to Battle Tsitsipas in Men's Singles Clash

January 7, 2026 | By ATP/WTA Staff

Perth, Australia – Coco Gauff showcased her championship pedigree on Wednesday, delivering a commanding performance to propel the defending champion United States into a strong position in their United Cup quarterfinal tie against Greece.

The World No. 4 American dispatched Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-2 in just 1 hour and 26 minutes at RAC Arena, handing Team USA a crucial 1-0 advantage. Next up is the highly anticipated men's singles matchup between Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Gauff's victory was particularly noteworthy as she rebounded emphatically from a challenging previous outing where serving woes had plagued her game. Under the bright Perth sunshine, the 21-year-old was in complete control from the outset, leading from start to finish.

"I'm really pleased with how I played today," Gauff said during her on-court interview. "I just wanted to move on from my last match. This format is great because my teammates – Taylor [Fritz] and Christian [Harrison] – kept us alive in the tie, giving me another opportunity to step up. I'm thrilled to put the team ahead."

Statistically, Gauff was sharp on serve, placing 68% of her first serves in play and winning 76% of those points. She reduced her double faults dramatically from 14 in her prior match to only six against Sakkari.

For the Greek star Sakkari, the defeat halted an otherwise encouraging start to the week, where she notched impressive victories over Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu. Entering 2026 ranked No. 52 in the PIF WTA Rankings, the 30-year-old former Top 5 player faces a pivotal season ahead.

This win extends Gauff's winning streak against Sakkari to three matches, improving her head-to-head record to 6-5.

With the tie now poised at 1-0 for the United States, all eyes turn to Fritz and Tsitsipas for the men's singles rubber that could decide the outcome before a potential mixed doubles decider.