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Coco Gauff Becomes Player-Owner of Florida Flamingos

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 5:10 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Coco Gauff Becomes Owner

Coco Gauff will serve as player-owner of the Florida Flamingos in World Team Tennis.
The Flamingos will host matches Dec. 14-15 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
Gauff, a Delray Beach native, said she looks forward to playing before family and friends.
Her teammates are Tommy Paul, Learner Tien, Iva Jovic, Brandon Nakashima and Eva Lys.
The match format includes four singles sets and a mixed-doubles super tiebreaker.

Summary

World Team Tennis Revives

World Team Tennis will grant players equity stakes and win-bonus payouts to attract top talent.
The league secured a primetime broadcast partnership with Versant’s USA Sports, airing all six matches on CNBC.
Matches will be played in December, moving from the traditional July slot to align with the ATP and WTA break.
World Team Tennis paused after the 2021 season due to pandemic-related financial issues and will revive in 2026.

History

Historical Context

World Team Tennis debuted in 1974, founded by Larry King, Dennis Murphy, and Billie Jean King, pioneering a co-ed mixed-gender league format. The inaugural season featured 22 franchises, including the New York Sets, and generated $1.2 million in ticket revenue, surpassing early expectations. That early profit model mirrors today’s revival, where players like Coco Gauff and Tommy Paul receive equity stakes and bonus payouts to attract talent. The 1974 experiment demonstrated that shared ownership can sustain tennis leagues, suggesting the 2026 reboot may achieve lasting financial stability.

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Coco Gauff Becomes Owner

Coco Gauff will serve as player-owner of the Florida Flamingos in World Team Tennis.
The Flamingos will host matches Dec. 14-15 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
Gauff, a Delray Beach native, said she looks forward to playing before family and friends.
Her teammates are Tommy Paul, Learner Tien, Iva Jovic, Brandon Nakashima and Eva Lys.
The match format includes four singles sets and a mixed-doubles super tiebreaker.

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