While Coco Gauff ultimately lost the war, she did win the most meaningful of battles. At the 2026 United Cup, Gauff defeated Iga Gauff to even the tie between the United States and Poland, but then Gauff lost in doubles to give Poland the ultimate victory.
Still, it won't be the doubles match that the American likely takes away from the year-opening tournament. Instead, it will be that she won four straight matches, including the victory over the WTA No. 2. That rivalry has changed, and their most recent match proves it.
Gauff defeated Swiatek 6-4 6-2. While the Pole initially dominated the head-to-head 11-1, the American has won the last three matches. Increasingly, when they play, Gauff appears to be the better player, while Swiatek remains one of the more metronomic players on the WTA tour.
Coco Gauff's defeat of Iga Swiatek could portend excellence in 2026
The Pole has slightly changed her game since late in 2024, becoming more aggressive and hitting bigger, but she can be overpowered on hard courts by bigger hitters. Gauff is one of them, and it showed in Sydney.
The American got five breaks of Swiatek's serve as the Pole struggled with that aspect of her game throughout the match. She landed just 59 percent of her first serves, and she double-faulted three times. This was just one fewer than Gauff, who often has issues in that respect.
The second set was by far the more decisive as Swiatek was only able to land 52 percent of her first serves, and Gauff landed 79 percent. The American also won 68 percent of those points while the Pole won fewer than 50 percent.
A change in the rivalry, which is clearly occurring, also could mean that Coco Gauff is set up for high-end success in 2026. She has won two Grand Slams, including the French Open in 2025, but she hasn't been able to string together impressive runs at majors. She has the game to do so, but not the history.
Meanwhile, she has watched as Aryna Sabalenka has taken home four Grand Slam trophies (Swiatek has won six) and ruled the top ranking on the WTA tour for each of the last two years. Could she overtake her this year? She certainly has started well enough to make Sabalenka think about it.
With the victory, Coco Gauff also moved back to WTA No. 3. Fellow American Amanda Anisimova had temporarily passed her.