States Cup | Final | Tiafoe and Pegula put the United States into orbit

Frances Tiafoe and Jessica Pegula delivered impressive performances in Sydney on Sunday, putting the United States in perfect position to win 2-0 against Italy in the final of the inaugural United Cup.

World number three Pegula, who entered the top 10 in 2022 by winning the WTA 1000 tournament in Guadalajara, won 6-4, 6-2 against Martina Trevisan. Tiafoe, number 19 in the ATP, then won the first set 6-2 against Lorenzo Musetti before the Italian, 23rd in the world, gave up with a right shoulder injury.

“Martina plays very well, she’s a fighter, I feel she feeds on the atmosphere with the fans and her team, and it’s really hard to beat someone like that”Pegula stressed. “I’m happy I was able to play well enough to get the win”she added.

Pegula in great shape

Next up on Sunday pits Taylor Fritz against Matteo Berrettini and a win for the American would seal the fate of this best-of-five final. Madison Keys will face Lucia Bronzetti in view of a perhaps decisive mixed doubles match.

The domineering United States defeated Iga Swiatek-led Poland 5-0 to qualify for the deciding match of the mixed-team tournament – which started with 18 nations – while Italy beat Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Greece 4-1 in the semifinals . Trevisan knocked out world number six Maria Sakkari on Friday in a thrilling three-hour match. But in the final Pegula was also in great form, having beaten world number one Iga Swiatek for the first time. He immediately goes into action against Trevisan, taking the lead 3-0 after stealing the first Italian serve.

I found it to be of the highest standard

Trevisan then displayed the qualities that saw them beat Sakkari to come from behind, converting a break point in game five and holding serve to level the score. But Pegula took possession of the Florentine’s serve again to win the first set with a winning backhand. In the second set, the American accelerated to take a 5-0 lead. But the Italian refused to give up and earned the break as Pegula served for the match, before failing to come back.

Tiafoe picked up where his compatriot left off, quickly winning Musetti’s serve and saving all three break points he faced alone. The Italian complained more and more about his right shoulder as the match progressed before seeking treatment and ending the match at the end of the first set. “I thought it was a very high level… Of course, in the end, I saw that he was touching his shoulder a lot”Tiafoe said. “I didn’t want to win like this. I hope Lorenzo feels better”said the 24-year-old, who won for the first time in his career against the Italian after two defeats on the circuit.