DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — US Open champion Coco Gauff said on Monday tennis can follow basketball's example and have men facing women in specialized contests such as Serena Williams and Australian Nick Kyrgios in serve targets.

Gauff was speaking after Stephen Curry sank his last four shots from the right corner to defeat Sabrina Ionescu, 29-26, in the National Basketball Association-Women 3-Point Challenge on Saturday at the NBA All-Star weekend.

The first-ever shootout of the sexes was a groundbreaking showdown between elite guards — Golden State's Curry, the NBA's all-time three-point basket leader, and Women's NBA single-season three-point record-holder Ionescu of the New York Liberty.

Both players shot from the NBA three-point line, which is farther away from the basket than the WNBA three-point line.

Speaking to reporters in Dubai, where she is competing in the WTA tournament, Gauff was asked what skills challenge, akin to the ones featured at the weekend, would work in tennis.

The 19-year-old American said she would love to see Serena Williams and Nick Kyrgios go toe-to-toe in a serve targets contest.

"There's also like the dropshot one," she said.

"Ons (Jabeur) and Carlos (Alcaraz) would be a cool matchup against that. There could be maybe a consistency challenge."

Gauff hailed Ionescu's efforts against Curry.

"I think the Sabrina and Steph competition was great," Gauff said.

"I think most people were rooting for Sabrina. What she did was incredible, especially also shooting from the NBA line."

"Steph is definitely the greatest three-point shooter ever."

Gauff said she would hope the man against woman shootout is not a one-off.

"I just hope they continue to do this," she said.