It has now been a full year since American tennis star Coco Gauff made a direct public appeal to Roger Federer, yet her campaign for a women's version of the prestigious Laver Cup remains unfulfilled.
The Public Appeal for Change
Following her exit from the 2025 Australian Open quarter-finals, the two-time Grand Slam champion took to social media to voice her idea. Gauff suggested launching a female equivalent of the annual team competition, which currently features only male players. The tournament, which sees Team Europe battle Team World, was co-created and is owned by the Swiss maestro, Federer, and debuted on the tennis calendar in 2017.
At the time of her post in January 2025, Gauff was one of four American women in the WTA's top 10, a formidable group that included Jessica Pegula, the now-reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, and Emma Navarro. In a notable Instagram post, Gauff shared a photo of the quartet with the caption: "USA vs World Laver Cup????"
Progress Stalls as Men's Event Continues
Despite this high-profile push, the plea appears to have been overlooked. The most recent Laver Cup, held in September 2025, continued as an all-male affair, with Team World, captained by Andre Agassi, securing victory. The question of whether Gauff's vision will ever become a reality is still hanging in the air.
Key figures behind the competition have indicated that any expansion would be a slow and considered process. Todd Godsick, Federer's business partner in establishing the Laver Cup, commented in 2024 that developing a women's format would require significant thought. "It will take a little time to think about a fitting format for a tournament with women," Godsick explained.
He emphasised that the priority was first to realise the full potential of the men's event before exploring other possibilities. Godsick also drew a comparison to golf's Ryder Cup, stating it was their aim to reach similar stature, but noted "the Ryder Cup is 90 years ahead of us."
Why Not a Mixed Event?
Some have proposed simply adding female players to the existing Laver Cup to create a mixed-gender spectacle. However, Godsick was quick to dismiss this idea, pointing to the pre-existing Hopman Cup as a format that already combines men and women. "I think all of a sudden if we change this and added women to it, it would sort of be like the Hopman Cup that kind of exists already," he said, underscoring their commitment to the distinct identity of the Laver Cup.
Meanwhile, Coco Gauff continues her own journey on the court. She is once again competing at the Australian Open in Melbourne, where she holds a career win-loss record of 16-6. Her best performance at the tournament came in 2024 when she reached the semi-finals, only to be stopped by the eventual champion, Aryna Sabalenka.
As the tennis world watches the action unfold in Melbourne, the conversation about equality and representation in showcase team events like the Laver Cup persists, waiting for a decisive serve from one of the game's most influential figures.
