In a major upset at the United Cup in Perth, American tennis star Coco Gauff has crashed to a surprising three-set defeat against Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The loss at RAC Arena on Monday, 5 January 2026, throws a significant spanner in the works for the United States team's hopes of retaining the coveted mixed teams title.
A Serving Nightmare Derails Gauff
The world No.4 and reigning French Open champion was far from her best, producing a shockingly sub-par serving performance that her opponent ruthlessly exploited. Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 42nd in the world, secured a commanding 6-1, 6-7, 6-0 victory in a match that highlighted Gauff's struggles.
This result stands in stark contrast to Gauff's dominant opening match on Saturday night, where she dispatched Argentina's Solina Sierra 6-1, 6-1 in just 57 minutes. Against the Spaniard, however, her game fell apart. Gauff managed just one ace and was broken a staggering nine times throughout the contest. Her serve was littered with 14 double faults, and she won a meagre six points from 32 second serves.
Match Analysis: A Tale of Two Sets
The match began disastrously for the American, with Bouzas Maneiro racing to a 5-0 lead within 23 minutes. Gauff avoided a first-set bagel by securing a break, but the Spaniard immediately broke back to take the set 6-1.
Showing the fighting spirit of a champion, Gauff mounted a stirring comeback in the second set. After falling behind early, she broke back, levelled the set at 4-4, and then broke again to serve for the set. Although Bouzas Maneiro broke back to force a tiebreak, Gauff held her nerve to clinch it and send the match to a decider.
Any momentum gained was swiftly erased in the third set. Gauff's serve woes returned with a vengeance as Bouzas Maneiro stormed to a 5-0 lead, never looking back before serving out the match to love. The comprehensive first and third set thrashings took a combined 69 minutes.
Ramifications for Team USA's Title Defence
This defeat carries significant weight for the United States' United Cup campaign. Gauff's loss compounds worries for the team, following news that their top-ten men's player, Taylor Fritz, is nursing a knee injury after losing his opening match.
With two of their star players underperforming or injured, the fate of the American team's title defence could now be taken out of their hands, dependent on other group results. For Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, the victory marks her first career win over Gauff, a massive confidence boost built on a cleaner and more consistent performance, where she hit 27 winners to Gauff's 10.
The upset adds to a growing list of surprises at the Perth event, proving once again that in team competition, rankings can be swiftly overturned by pressure and precision.
