SYDNEY, Jan 8: The United States claimed the inaugural United Cup on Sunday in convincing fashion with an overpowering display over Italy in the final of the mixed teams event.
No. 9-ranked Taylor Fritz gave the USA an unassailable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five matchup when edging former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7).
He was mobbed by his teammates at Ken Rosewall Arena after clinching the title for the Americans.Jessica Pegula put the USA on the path to victory by beating Martina Trevisan 6-4, 6-2, continuing her strong form, which included a win over top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Friday.
Frances Tiafoe, a 2022 US Open semifinalist, extended the lead when Lorenzo Musetti withdrew with a shoulder injury after losing the first set of their match 6-2.
The singles match between Madison Keys and Lucia Bronzetti was rendered a dead rubber in terms of the title, though ranking points and prize money were on offer.
Heading into the final, the USA had lost just two of the 20 rubbers they played in ties against the Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain and Poland.Petra Kvitova defeated Pegula in the opening tie of the event, while 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist Cameron Norrie beat Fritz in three sets on Jan. 4.Similarly to Fritz’s 7-6, 7-6 victory over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz on Saturday, the clash between Fritz and Berrettini was dominated by serving.
But Berrettini, who fell in three sets to Stefanos Tsitsipas in a semifinal against Greece on Saturday, lost his composure early in the first tiebreaker and late in the second to give Fritz the victory.
Pegula claimed the first three games against Trevisan and then withstood a challenge from the No. 27-ranked player late in the first set on the way to a solid victory.
No. 3-ranked Pegula said that as her team’s top-ranked player of either sex, she wanted to lead by example.Tiafoe, ranked No. 19, was in a dominant position against Musetti when the Italian ended the match on the opening point of the second set.The 20-year-old had earlier received medical treatment after dropping serve to trail 2-5 in the opening set. (PTI)
