(Sydney) The representatives of the United States won the inaugural United Cup after a convincing and dominant performance against the colors of Italy in the final of this mixed tennis tournament on Sunday in Sydney, Australia.
World No. 9, Taylor Fritz gave the United States an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the duel when she badly beat Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini 7-6(4), 7-6(6) .
Fritz, the defending Indian Wells Masters 1000 champion, failed to convert just one of his nine break chances during the match. However, he faced no break points and was the more consistent of the two players in both tiebreakers.
After materializing the victory for the United States, on the Ken Rosewall Arena field, Fritz was quickly surrounded by his teammates and companions, at the height of happiness.
“We arrived with high hopes before the tournament started, and I was really happy to be in the position where I could get the triumph. And the emotions when you win and everyone rushes at you, it’s great,” described Fritz.
Jessica Pegula started the USA on the right track by beating Martina Trevisan 6-4, 6-2 in the opener of the final. For Pegula, it was another solid performance, after defeating Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the world’s No. 1 player, on Friday.
Frances Tiafoe doubled the USA lead when Lorenzo Musetti had to retire with a shoulder injury after losing the first set 6-2.
After Fritz’s triumph, and in a confrontation that no longer affected the final outcome of the tournament, Madison Keys defeated Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 6-2.
The United States were perceived among the favorites of this tournament which brought together 18 nations due to the presence of four standard-bearers all classified among the first 20 feminine singular and masculine singular.
Prior to playing the final against Italy, the United States had lost just two games to the Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain and Poland.
Pegula lost to Czech Petra Kvitova in her very first match of the tournament, while Britain’s Cameron Norrie beat Fritz in three sets on 4 January.
Champions of the ATP Cup in 2022, a men’s team tournament held at the same time of the calendar year, Canada did not participate in the United Cup. This event replaced the ATP Cup this year.
