A Florida Homecoming With a Twist
Coco Gauff is heading into the off-season with something most professional tennis players never get: an ownership stake in the team they play for. The 22-year-old American will serve as a player-owner of the Florida Flamingos in the relaunched World Team Tennis competition, which returns this December after a five-year absence. Gauff's home matches are scheduled for December 14 and 15 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, the same arena where the NHL's Florida Panthers play. For Gauff, who grew up in Delray Beach, the event is a rare chance to compete in front of her South Florida community. She described feeling "excited" not only for herself but especially for the fans, noting that team competition is a format tennis players rarely get to experience.
Star-Studded Rosters Across the League
The Florida Flamingos boast a formidable lineup alongside Gauff, including Tommy Paul, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Iva Jovic, and Eva Lys. The updated league format features four singles sets plus a mixed doubles super tiebreaker, with each team fielding two men and two women. The competition should be fierce: the New York Empire Racquet Club features US Open semifinalists Frances Tiafoe and Jessica Pegula, while the Toronto North Racquet Club brings together Canadian standouts Denis Shapovalov, Leylah Fernandez, Victoria Mboko, and Gabriel Diallo. World Team Tennis has a rich history dating back to 1974, when legends like Billie Jean King, Jimmy Connors, and Arthur Ashe competed in the inaugural season. The Florida Flamingos were one of the original franchises from that debut, making this revival feel historically meaningful. TennisDraw users tracking Gauff's off-season movements will want to keep a close eye on how she performs in this unique team setting heading into 2025.
