Coco Gauff will compete as a player-owner in World Team Tennis for its relaunch this December, the mixed-gender tennis league announced on Thursday, Sept. 24.
Gauff, who is ranked No. 4 in the world and coming off a U.S. Open semifinal run, will play for the Florida Flamingos alongside Tommy Paul, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Iva Jovic and Eva Lys. Gauff grew up in Delray Beach, Florida.
That means two Gauff vs. Jessica Pegula matchups are on deck. The top two American women were on a collision course to meet in this year's U.S. Open final before they both lost in the semifinals, with Gauff eliminated by eventual champion Elena Rybakina and Pegula defeated by Aryna Sabalenka.
Pegula was one of the first players who committed to World Team Tennis
this winter and will play for the New York Empire. The Empire and Flamingos face off on Dec. 1 in New York and Dec. 15 in Florida, with Pegula and Gauff projected to play against each other in the league's unique match format.
Each WTT team will start four players (two men and two women) and each match consists of four singles sets - two men's and two women's - followed by a mixed doubles tiebreak. Games use no-ad scoring to create shorter matches and the potential for dramatic sudden death points at deuce.
WTT has recruited several other top-ranked American players for its 2026 revival season, including Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz. The league offers players equity and win bonuses to help entice them to compete in the WTT season, which now takes place over two weeks during a break in the WTA and ATP Tour schedules.
World Team Tennis was originally founded by Billie Jean King in 1974 and last held a season in 2021, after which it paused due to financial complications from the coronavirus pandemic. While Pegula, Fritz and Paul are among the players who participated in previous iterations of WTT, this will be Gauff's first time playing in the league.
World Team Tennis rosters
As of Sept. 24, these players have been announced as part of World Team Tennis' three clubs.
- Toronto North Racquet Club: Gabriel Diallo, Leylah Fernandez, Victoria Mboko, Denis Shapovalov
- New York Empire Racquet Club: Taylor Fritz, Camila Osorio, Jessica Pegula, Frances Tiafoe, Michael Zheng
- Florida Flamingos Racquet Club: Coco Gauff, Iva Jovic, Eva Lys, Brandon Nakashima, Tommy Paul, Learner Tien
World Team Tennis schedule
- Tuesday, Dec. 1: Florida Flamingos @ New York Empire (Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York)
- Wednesday, Dec. 2: Toronto North @ New York Empire (Barclays Center)
- Saturday, Dec. 5: New York Empire @ Toronto North (Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada)
- Sunday, Dec. 6: Florida Flamingos @ Toronto North (Coca-Cola Coliseum)
- Monday, Dec. 14: Toronto North @ Florida Flamingos (Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida)
- Tuesday, Dec. 15: New York Empire @ Florida Flamingos (Amerant Bank Arena)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coco Gauff joins star-studded World Team Tennis as player-owner
