You don’t typically associate the term ‘MVP’ with tennis. But Coco Gauff made it happen in her debut at the 2025 United Cup. The 20-year-old tennis sensation kicked off her 2025 season by leading Team USA to victory, winning all her matches and securing the prestigious MVP honor along the way. But while Gauff was clearly savoring this rare accolade, she couldn’t resist spilling the tea on where her trophies call home—including her prized 2023 US Open title.

On Sunday evening at the United Cup in Sydney, Coco Gauff delivered another masterclass, defeating Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 in a gripping two-hour showdown. This marked her second consecutive win(first at the WTA Finals in Riyadh) over the five-time Grand Slam champion, capping an undefeated run in the tournament. Gauff’s sublime form saw her triumph in all her singles matches against Canada, Croatia, China, and Czechia before taking down Poland in the final.

Gauff’s victory over the World No. 2 set the tone for Team USA’s 2-0 win over Poland, earning them their second United Cup title in three years. After Gauff, Taylor Fritz sealed the deal with a nail-biting 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (4) victory over Hubert Hurkacz. With her remarkable performance, Gauff was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Talking about the honor in an Instagram clip, Gauff said, “I didn’t know [MVP] was a thing so I wasn’t expecting anything like that, but probably the only time, you know you can get MVP in tennis so that’s pretty cool. I think it’s something one of the trophies I might actually leave outside the box.” But that wasn’t the only trophy talk from the 20-year-old.

During the conversation, Taylor Fritz jokingly asked, “The US Open one too?” Gauff laughed and revealed, “The US Open one is in a safe.”

Coco Gauff famously won her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set final. The 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory made her the youngest American to win a major since Serena Williams in 1999. However, her 2024 US Open campaign ended in the fourth round, where she was defeated by fellow American Emma Navarro. However, for now the World No.3 is laser focused on winning her first hard-court slam title at the Australian Open.

Coco Gauff gunning for the coveted Australian Open title

Coco Gauff’s stellar start to the 2025 season at the United Cup has set the stage for an exciting Australian Open campaign. Her confidence is at an all-time high after leading Team USA to victory in Sydney, and she’s ready to chase her second Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park.

When asked during a post-match press conference how her United Cup triumph boosted her belief ahead of the Australian Open, the World No.3 was brimming with optimism. “Yeah, I mean, honestly, before every Grand Slam, I have the belief that I can win, and especially after US Open, I proved that I could do it. I definitely have belief that I can win,” Gauff said.

She added, “Obviously, this start of the season gives me a lot of confidence. I feel like when I’m playing confident tennis I’m playing great tennis. I definitely feel confident going into AO.”

The 20-year-old is expected to be seeded third in women’s singles at the 2025 Australian Open. Last year, she delivered a strong performance by reaching the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka. Now, with the momentum of her United Cup victory and the belief instilled by her US Open win, she will be aiming to go one step further.

Can Coco Gauff secure her second Grand Slam title?