Coco Gauff to Own and Play for Florida WTT Team

Coco Gauff will take on a new role as a player-owner for the Florida Flamingos Racquet Club, a participant in the upcoming World Team Tennis season. The two-time Grand Slam champion is slated to compete in the team's home games on December 14 and 15. These matches will be hosted at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, the home venue of the NHL's Florida Panthers.

Gauff, who grew up in Delray Beach, expressed her enthusiasm for playing in front of her local fans and family. She highlighted the unique opportunity for tennis players to compete as part of a team, anticipating an exciting experience for both herself and the spectators. The Florida Flamingos are among the original franchises dating back to World Team Tennis's inception in 1974, which championed a mixed-gender team format.

The league is set to relaunch in December with additional teams based in New York and Toronto. Other notable players confirmed for the season include Frances Tiafoe and Jessica Pegula for the New York Empire, and Canadian talents Denis Shapovalov, Leylah Fernandez, Victoria Mboko, and Gabriel Diallo for the Toronto North Racquet Club. The new match format will include four singles sets and a mixed doubles tiebreaker, with each team comprising two men and two women.