UNITED CUP

January 4, 2026

Michael Russell

Coco Gauff

Christian Harrison

Team USA

Press Conference

Team USA - 2

Team Argentina - 1

THE MODERATOR: Well done on the team win today. Just want to ask how it felt being out there on the court tonight. What do you think you did well today?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I think we just had good attitude and positivity throughout the whole match, especially in the mixed. First point in the match, they were already saying, Come on, and stuff, so I knew we had to bring it.

Playing with Christian, he's obviously a great player, so I felt like I just had to do my part, and we would do well.

CHRISTIAN HARRISON: For me it was great. Yeah, it was fun. I have watched Coco play so much. Such a big fan. I've known Mike forever. I feel like he's (inaudible) almost.

Just fun to share a match like that with these guys, some people that I look up to. It's good to just get out there and enjoy playing hard.

MICHAEL RUSSELL: I thought the synergy and the chemistry with Christian and Coco was excellent. First match playing together, and they brought a lot of energy. I think playing a decisive match, that's super important. You could see on the big points they had some great reflexes and played aggressive. You know, it was really nice to see.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Coco, during your post-match interview on court you were kind of talking about how you were the second match to play. I guess it's more of a psychological question. Would you always rather play first? I know you can't control that, but just kind of curious about that.

COCO GAUFF: I mean, last year I did prefer to play first, because it was like, okay, whew, I got my match out the way. No, this year I knew for a while I was going to be the first match, so I was just mentally preparing myself.

I definitely think it's harder to be in that position regardless of the scenario, even if you're up 1-0. There's pressure because you don't want to be the reason, and down 0-1 is obviously pressure to stay in it.

Yeah, I just try to literally just tell myself it's a regular tournament win or go out, go home type situation and try not to think of it as letting down my team.

Q. Pretty quick 57-minute win for you. I know yesterday during your media day you were talking about how you felt you had a good off-season. In your match against Solana did you think what you were working on in the off-season transition pretty well in your first match of the year?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, for sure. I think there are things I can do better if I'm hyper-critical, but obviously it was a straightforward win.

I think as the more the season goes, I feel like that stuff will settle in even more.

Q. Christian, I think that was your first time playing for the States, was it?

CHRISTIAN HARRISON: I believe so, yes. Yeah.

Q. You probably remember.

CHRISTIAN HARRISON: Yeah, of course.

Q. What was it like to play for your country tonight?

CHRISTIAN HARRISON: Honestly it was amazing. I mean, it's fun to get in that just environment with a team of just people behind you on the bench and just get good support and then just enjoy a match.

Honestly I wasn't really thinking a whole lot because I just was having a good time. For me, I just told myself, this is why I still practice so hard just because I love playing. So I felt like mentally I was prepared to play.

Then I have a great team of people that just made it easy to just play tennis.

Q. Mike, can I ask you for your thoughts on Taylor's singles match?

MICHAEL RUSSELL: No (smiling). Sebastian played really well. It's probably the highest level that he's played against Taylor in their six meetings. Taylor was up a set and a break, and I think a little bit of fatigue and hasn't played as much tennis and had the volume in the off-season. It kind of showed today.

But credit to Sebastian. He played really well under pressure in that third set and was able to play pretty aggressive, and he won the match.

Back to the drawing board. We'll see how Taylor feels tomorrow. It's a long match, first match of the season. That's the beauty of the team competition. You know, he's got a support, Christian and Coco coming through, and getting another opportunity to play well on Monday.

Q. Coco, I'm curious just how much of a point of pride is it for you that you haven't played much doubles these days recently and mixed doubles, as you said, but you can drop in and put in a performance like that when you need to?

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, honestly I was, like, kind of hyping myself up. Yeah, I feel like I just haven't played in a while, so you never know how to expect.

Then I remind myself, like, I had had good results in doubles even though I don't maybe play, but obviously winning the slam and being No. 1, yeah, twice, I was telling myself, reminding myself of that on the court. I was, like, don't forget who you are.

Whenever I play mixed, I feel like the worst player on the court most times, but today I didn't feel like that (laughing).

Q. You like telling yourself, I'm a slam champion.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, at the beginning of the match, because I was a little bit nervous just, because I felt like they had played together the day before, and then Christian and I have never played together.

Honestly this is our first real time meeting each other here, so you never know how that's going to go. Honestly, I felt on the court like we've been playing for a long time.

Q. Christian, what is it like playing with someone for the first time when you've not even trained with them together?

CHRISTIAN HARRISON: Honestly, I knew it was going to be good, because my dad is a coach. He coaches a lot of the girls on the WTA, so I practice with a lot of the top girls a lot. I knew that she was going to hang in there and just make it enjoyable for me and just not press.

I mean, she was hanging in every rally and dominating. Honestly, it was just fun. Fun to be out there the whole time.

Q. Coco, I saw you signed up for the 1 Point Slam for the Australian Open.

COCO GAUFF: I didn't, like (laughing) -- yeah, they wanted me to. I'm not looking forward to it, but...

Q. It was fun last year. In general, curious before a slam, the week before a slam, it becomes this big thing now where they're three-week events. As a player and for you as well, Christian, do you like that? Now you go the week before, and there are crowds everywhere, and people are watching you. It's not that quiet experience that you've had in the past.

COCO GAUFF: Yeah, I mean, I think especially it gets you in the mindset, like being ready. Also, I think it's great for the sport to have these different things going on.

Yeah, the 1 Point, we'll see how I do. I'm not very confident in myself. But yeah, I think it's great. Just promotes the more fun side of tennis. Obviously it's going to get pretty serious later on, but I think it's great for fanfare. Especially because our sport is really, be quiet and don't move around too much. It gives the fans a little different perspective on the sport.

Yeah, I try to make sure it's just the right amount of things. I like to just do one thing and then after that I try to focus on the two weeks.

Q. Christian, do you like it?

CHRISTIAN HARRISON: I do. She said it best there. Anything that's just different. Any kind of exposure that gives the fans just a different kind of way to watch tennis than the traditional just sit there and just don't move. I think that can sometimes be boring for spectators. Coco said it best honestly, yeah.

Q. To Michael, I'm curious just how Taylor is physically, I guess. Some commentators were saying maybe he was feeling his knee or anything. Just curious how he is.

MICHAEL RUSSELL: It's a little sore, his knee. He's coming off the off-season and was mostly focusing on recovery and rehab, but I mean, it's part of the sport.

You play three sets. It's going to be physical. At the end of the day, then you just assess how you feel afterwards. We'll see tomorrow.

Hopefully he'll be ready to go on Monday.