Taylor Fritz-Jessica Pegula clinch dramatic win as United States down Great Britain
Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula combined for victory as the United States came from behind in the decisive mixed doubles rubber against Great Britain on Sunday to clinch a 2-1 victory in Group C in a Preliminary Stage encounter in the United Cup mixed team event here.
PERTH: Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula combined for victory as the United States came from behind in the decisive mixed doubles rubber against Great Britain on Sunday to clinch a 2-1 victory in Group C in a Preliminary Stage encounter in the United Cup mixed team event here.
With this win, the United States went up 1-0 in the mixed-teams event.
The tie was level at 1-1 when Fritz and Pegula came together to defeat Katie Boulter and Neal Skupski 1-6, 7-6(4), 10-7. The United States is aiming to defend its title, having triumphed at the tournament last season.
The United States will now qualify for the quarterfinals if they beat Australia on Monday night. The winner of Group C will advance to the quarterfinals in Perth.
Great Britain ended their Group play holding a 1-1 record, having beaten Australia 2-1. Australia, led by Alex de Minaur, are still in the hunt but must overcome the United States to advance to the next round.
Earlier, Fritz kept the United States alive when he defeated Cameron Norrie 7-6(5), 6-4, gaining revenge for his defeat to the British lefty at the mixed-teams event last season.
Meeting for the 14th time in their ATP head-to-head series, Fritz and Norrie exchanged heavy blows in the hot Perth conditions.
Fritz recovered from squandering a 4-1 lead in the first set, sealing the opener in the tie-break. He then gained the decisive break of the second set in the ninth game, advancing after one hour and 47 minutes. The World No. 10, who received medical treatment on his left thigh during the match, now leads Norrie 8-6 in career meetings.
Great Britain got off to a good start when Boulter pulled off the win of the United Cup so far on Sunday with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Pegula of the United States in Group C action.
Novak Djokovic started the season the way he ended, winning his match to give Serbia a 1-0 lead over China in a preliminary league match on Sunday.
In his first match of the new season, the No. 1 in the ATP Rankings eased past Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 6-2 to give Serbia lead. IANS
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