New Year’s Eve sparked celebrations across the globe, and the tennis world was no exception. Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and World No. 3 Coco Gauff recently turned heads as they showcased their elegant looks for the festivities. Both stars welcomed the occasion in Australia, where they are set to start their respective 2026 seasons.
Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina Exude Elegance While Showcasing Their Looks for New Year’s Celebration
Coco Gauff has firmly established herself as one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars, and her 2025 season stood as clear evidence of that ascent. The American ended the year with a 48–16 win-loss record and, despite enduring a challenging title-less stretch after her French Open triumph in May, came back stronger by capturing the WTA 1000 crown in Wuhan.
Her consistency also earned her a spot at the WTA Finals for a fourth consecutive year. However, she was unable to make a profound impact at the event. Despite her straight-sets win over Jasmine Paolini, she went on to suffer defeats against Jessica Pegula and Aryna Sabalenka in her next two matches.
Rybakina, meanwhile, produced one of the most impressive comebacks of the 2025 season. After a difficult start to the year, managing just a single victory at Strasbourg, the Kazakh turned her fortunes around during the Asian swing. She went on to lift the Ningbo Open title, reach the semifinals of the Japan Open, and ultimately secure qualification for the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.
The Kazakh appeared to rediscover her trademark authority as she powered through a tough group stage, racing past Amanda Anisimova, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and Iga Swiatek. She then overcame Jessica Pegula before defeating World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to clinch the coveted title.
With both players now eyeing an even stronger trajectory in the 2026 season, they first took a moment to ring in the New Year in style. The duo shared glimpses of their look on Instagram, with Gauff exuding elegance in a glittering red ensemble, while Rybakina impressed with her subtle charm in grey.
Gauff also posted a series of clips from a New Year’s Eve event she attended in Perth, offering fans a peek into her celebrations.
For context, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are among the seven top-10 players featured in the initial entry list for the 2026 Brisbane International, which gets underway on January 4. Meanwhile, Gauff is set to begin her season at the 2026 United Cup, representing Team USA at the tournament scheduled from January 2 to 11 across Sydney and Perth.
