Coco Gauff becomes co-owner of Florida Flamingos

The WTA's top-ranked American has taken on a new role outside her usual tour. Coco Gauff has joined World TeamTennis as both a player and co-owner of the Florida Flamingos, and in December she will play at home in South Florida.

On September 24, 2026, World TeamTennis announced via PR Newswire that Coco Gauff had joined the Florida Flamingos Racquet Club franchise in two roles at once: as a player and as a co-owner. For Gauff, this marks both a new competition format and a return to familiar territory. The Flamingos' home matches are scheduled for December 14 and 15 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

According to PR Newswire, Gauff is listed for both of the club's home matches. The Amerant Bank Arena event page states that on December 14 the Florida Flamingos will host Toronto North, and on December 15 they will host New York Empire. Tickets are being sold through SeatGeek, the arena's official ticketing partner.

Coco Gauff in the WTT press release (PR Newswire): "Growing tennis through team competition and accessibility: two things I love... Looking forward to playing at home in front of family and friends"api.tennis

A new role as player and owner

The wording from WTT matters here. Gauff is joining the Florida Flamingos not as a guest star for the December matches, but as a player-owner. In the WTT release published by PR Newswire on September 24, she speaks about team competition and the accessibility of tennis as two things close to her.

There is also an English-language version of the comment in the same announcement, with a slightly broader emphasis. Gauff talks about her own feelings and about the fans.

Coco Gauff via PR Newswire: "Growing the sport through team competition and making it more accessible are two things I love... I'm excited for the new experience, not only for myself but, even more importantly, for the fans."api.tennis

According to WTT's projected lineups, on December 14 Gauff is set to face Victoria Mboko of Toronto North, and on December 15 she is set to face Jessica Pegula of New York Empire. The announced Flamingos roster around her includes Tommy Paul, Lernher Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Iva Jovic and Eva Lys.

Why Florida specifically

Gauff's connection to South Florida is central to this story. According to USOpen.org, she grew up in Delray Beach, Florida. That is why WTT is presenting the December matches in Sunrise as a homecoming appearance. Gauff herself says in the release that she is looking forward to playing in front of family and friends.

This connection had a public continuation back in March 2024. According to USOpen.org and the City of Delray Beach, Gauff helped open renovated public courts at Pompey Park. This was the first project of the US Open Legacy Initiative in her hometown.

Off the court, Gauff already has several ventures tied to business and social projects. According to Yahoo Finance, her partnership portfolio includes New Balance, UPS, Head, Barilla, Baker Tilly, Bose and Rolex, and in 2025 she announced the launch of her own business initiative supported by WME. According to ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and the Florida Division of Corporations, Coco Gauff Foundation, Inc. is registered as a 501(c)(3) organization in Delray Beach.

How WTT is relaunching the format

Gauff's story fits into a broader relaunch of World TeamTennis. Sports Business Journal reported that WTT's relaunch will take place in December 2026 under new leadership and with a modernized format. According to PR Newswire, the format works as follows: four singles sets (men's and women's first and second singles) plus a mixed super tiebreak, with men's and women's contributions to the overall result weighted equally.

On August 20, 2026, PR Newswire reported the announcement of new clubs and players ahead of the December relaunch. The name Florida Flamingos carries history within this lineup. The refreshed brand revives one of WTT's most recognizable names from the 1974 season and reimagines its identity.

Steven Amritraj, CEO of WTT, via PR Newswire: "Our goal has always been to modernize WTT's incredible legacy and reshape our brands to create something as cool as it was back in the day."api.tennis

The relaunch also has a broadcast dimension. On September 3, PR Newswire announced that USA Sports (Versant) had become WTT's new television partner. All six December matches will air in prime time on CNBC, with free streaming available on Fandango.

Celia Cole, SVP Strategy & Business Development, Versant (USA Sports), via PR Newswire: "We're excited to bring live World Team Tennis to CNBC and Fandango this December."api.tennis

The context of Gauff's season

Gauff's new role arrives against the backdrop of a strong playing position. According to the WTA rankings, she is listed fourth in the world in singles with 7244 points, and 149th in doubles. In the 2026 season she has a 42-12 singles record, one title and two finals.

Among her recent results is the title in Cincinnati, where she beat Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in the final. At the 2026 US Open, Gauff reached the semifinals. According to USOpen.org and the WTA, she lost to Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. In the quarterfinal of that tournament, the WTA noted her win over Mirra Andreeva.

Gauff is already a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, having won the US Open in 2023 and Roland Garros in 2025. This is confirmed by data from BBC Sport and the WTA. In 2024, according to the WTA and USTA, she won the WTA Finals in Riyadh, becoming the first American to win the year-end championship since 2014.

What's being said around the Flamingos

Tommy Paul, also linked to the Flamingos, singled out the new club's visual identity in the August WTT announcement. PR Newswire quotes his comment as a reaction to the Florida Flamingos' branding.

Tommy Paul via PR Newswire: "When I saw the branding for the Florida Flamingos, I couldn't have been more excited."api.tennis

PR Newswire also quotes Paul saying that South Florida's tennis scene holds a special place for him. For WTT, this is an important part of the relaunch. The league is rebuilding its club identities ahead of the December matches while simultaneously assembling rosters.

What's next

The 2026 WTT December tour will open on December 1 and 2 at Barclays Center in New York, continue on December 5 and 6 at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, and conclude on December 14 and 15 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. That is where Gauff is set to play her home matches for the Florida Flamingos.

For Gauff, the story currently comes down to two upcoming dates: December 14 against Toronto North, and December 15 against New York Empire. According to PR Newswire, all of the 2026 WTT December matches will air in prime time on CNBC with free streaming on Fandango.