The United States has secured its place in the quarterfinals of the inaugural United Cup mixed teams event, thanks to stellar performances from its top-seeded pair of Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz. The rising American tennis stars proved too strong for their opponents in Perth, putting the U.S. in an unassailable position atop Group A.
Fritz Fires USA to Victory
Taylor Fritz, the 2022 US Open finalist, set the tone for the Americans with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 win over Croatia’s Borna Coric. The 23-year-old’s powerful groundstrokes and precise serving left Coric with few answers, as Fritz wrapped up the victory in just over an hour.
It’s always an honor to represent my country. I’m happy I could get the job done and put us in a great position to make the quarterfinals.
– Taylor Fritz
Fritz’s win meant that the U.S. needed only one more match victory to clinch the tie against Croatia and book their spot in the final eight.
Gauff Seals the Deal
That task fell to 16-year-old phenom Coco Gauff, who faced Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the women’s singles rubber. Gauff, already a Grand Slam singles finalist and doubles champion, showed poise beyond her years to dispatch the experienced Vekic in straight sets.
- Gauff’s impressive court coverage and blistering pace off both wings proved too much for Vekic
- The teenage American closed out a confidence-boosting win to seal the tie for the USA
With the victory, the United States finished atop Group A with a perfect 3-0 record, having previously defeated Canada in their opening tie. They now look ahead to a quarterfinal clash against China, who advanced as the best runner-up from the group stage.
United Cup Quarterfinal Lineup Takes Shape
The United Cup, a new addition to the tennis calendar, features mixed teams from 18 countries competing across three Australian cities – Brisbane, Perth, and Sydney. The tournament acts as a lead-up to the Australian Open and offers players valuable match practice to start the season.
In other quarterfinal action:
- Kazakhstan takes on Germany
- Italy, led by world No.15 Jannik Sinner, faces off against Poland
- Greece battles Belgium for a spot in the semifinals
The quarterfinal ties will be played on January 1, with the semifinals and final to follow in Sydney. The unique format, national pride at stake, and early-season rust promise to deliver exciting tennis to kick off 2025.
We’re looking forward to a tough match against China. They’ve got some very talented young players, but we’re feeling confident and ready for the challenge.
– U.S. Captain Bob Bryan
With Gauff and Fritz leading the charge, the star-studded American squad appears poised for a deep run at the United Cup. Can they start the new year by bringing home the title? The coming days will reveal if the USA’s talented new generation is ready to step up on the international team stage.
