Sydney, Jan 7: Italy will play the United States in the final of the inaugural United Cup in Sydney after defeating Greece in a semi-final of the mixed teams competition on Saturday.
Stefanos Tsitsipas kept Greek hopes alive by defeating Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 in a clash between two Grand Slam finalists after Italy won the first two singles on Friday.
The world No. 4 held his nerve in an enthralling contest before breaking Berrettini for the first time midway through the deciding set to maintain his unbeaten record in the United Cup.
But Lucia Bronzetti clinched the finals berth for Italy by beating Valentini Grammatikopoulou 6-2, 6-3 to give her nation an unassailable 3-1 lead in the tie played at Ken Rosewall Arena.
“We are a great team and I am so excited, so happy right now,” she said.
All five matches in the final between the United States and Italy will be played in Sydney on Sunday.
Earlier on Saturday, Taylor Fritz beat Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) to clinch the US a spot in the final.
Fritz put the US up 3-0 in the best-of-five matchup, and 2017 US Open runner-up Madison Keys then made it 4-0 by defeating Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2.
Jessica Pegula partnered Fritz to a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 10-6 victory over Alicja Rosolska and Lukasz Kubot to sweep the semifinal for the US.
Pegula and Frances Tiafoe had given the Americans a big lead by taking Friday’s opening singles matches, including Pegula’s straight-set victory over No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek.
In the second tiebreaker of his match, the ninth-ranked Fritz had success during rallies by targeting the forehand wing of the 10th-ranked Hurkacz, drawing errors on crucial points. Hurkacz was clearly angered after making three forehand mistakes in succession to drop a tiebreaker he had led 5-4.
“No one could really get through for a (service break), but I think the difference in the tiebreakers is that I served well and put some returns in the court, played some really solid points and didn’t give him anything,” Fritz said.
Fritz has represented the US in the Davis Cup but said combining with the country’s best female players enhanced the experience in the new, 18-nation team competition. (AP)
