In a thrilling turn of events at the United Cup, British No. 1 Katie Boulter delivered a crucial straight-set victory over Australia’s Olivia Gadecki to secure Great Britain’s spot in the quarterfinals. The 6-2, 6-1 triumph in just 70 minutes was exactly what Team GB needed to emerge as Group F winners and continue their pursuit of the inaugural United Cup title.
Boulter Rises to the Occasion Under Pressure
Boulter admitted to feeling the weight of expectations after learning from former British No. 1 Laura Robson that she had to win in straight sets for her team to advance. But the 26-year-old rose to the challenge magnificently, overpowering Gadecki with her aggressive baseline game and unwavering focus.
I’ve been trying to avoid all the stats on all this but we were at dinner with Laura Robson last night, and she thankfully told me I had to win in straight sets. So I was feeling the pressure from last night.
– Katie Boulter
De Minaur Strikes Back for Australia
Boulter’s heroics were somewhat dampened by her fiancé Alex de Minaur’s straight-set win over Billy Harris in the men’s singles rubber. The world No. 9, determined not to let his country go down without a fight, then paired up with Gadecki to secure another straight-set victory in the mixed doubles over Olivia Nicholls and Charles Broom.
Great Britain March On Despite Defeat
Although Team GB suffered a 2-1 loss to Australia in their final group tie, Boulter’s initial triumph was enough to ensure their progression to the last eight as group winners ahead of the hosts. It’s a remarkable achievement for the British squad, who had already scored a confidence-boosting 2-1 win over Argentina in their opening clash.
- Boulter’s victory the key to GB’s qualification
- De Minaur and Gadecki fight back for Australia
- GB advance as Group F winners despite 2-1 loss
The United Cup, a new mixed-gender team event featuring ATP and WTA stars, has delivered high drama and excitement in its first edition. With Great Britain now safely through to the quarterfinals, they’ll be hoping to ride the momentum from Boulter’s inspirational performance and make a deep run in this innovative tournament.
