(Perth) Coco Gauff posted a message on social media just before starting her singles match at the United Cup on Monday, hoping to provide clarification on her recent statements regarding American tennis fans.

The match did not go well for Gauff, world No. 4, who lost the first five games before losing 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-0 to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, 42^e racket, in Perth.

Spain took the lead 1-0 in its Group A duel against the American team, the reigning champion of the event. Taylor Fritz then saved a match point before winning his singles match, and Gauff joined forces with Christian Harrison in the mixed doubles to secure the victory for the Americans.

“I’m going to clarify things because people took my comments out of context,” Gauff wrote in a social media post shortly before her match, referencing the “worse” comment she made earlier in the tournament when comparing support for players from smaller countries to support for American players overseas.

“The supporters of small countries come with their colors and their flags, and it is clear who they support,” Gauff said in his message. I was just speaking from my point of view. I understand the financial aspect, and I know that tennis is not accessible to everyone, this was more of a comment aimed at those who are already there and how I wish they were as passionate as those in other countries. »

Gauff, who is 21 and already has two major singles titles in her career, noted that her initial comments were made following a question during a press conference.

“I was asked the question and I simply shared an observation I had made about other countries compared to my own, that’s all,” she said. Nonetheless, I am grateful for all the support, no matter how big or small. »

In an excerpt from the press conference published on X, Gauff said: “I feel like we really have the worst [partisans] in the field of tennis in this regard.

She added that in previous team competitions, she noticed that players from other countries enjoyed more enthusiastic support from their fans than American tennis players, although she attributed this to the fact that American sports fans have many teams and athletes to support.

Gauff said the Americans still have good support from fans going to the Australian Open in Melbourne, “but I’d like to see more Americans than last year if we qualify for the United Cup final in Sydney.”