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Tiafoe rallies past Evans to clinch U.S. win vs. Great Britain in United Cup city final

Victoria Chiesa | January 04, 2023


The U.S. United Cup team is moving on to a semifinal date with Poland after beating Great Britain 4-1 in the Sydney city final.

 

A perfect day by the U.S. women, behind the efforts of Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula, and a clinching come-from-behind win from Frances Tiafoe helped secure the Americans' berth in the next round.

 

"It was a great day," U.S. captain David Witt said. "They went out and fought hard. Everybody got it done. Played some great mixed doubles. Jess played great. Frances had a battle. It was a good day."

Two three-setters had the teams even early on. Keys rallied from a set down to beat Katie Swan 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the opening match, but Taylor Fritz lost to Cameron Norrie 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, despite having a break lead in the decider.  

 

"I came out not playing super well and found a way to get into the match," Keys said. "I don't think I ever really found my top level, but I figured it out and I started playing a lot smarter and managed to get it done."

 

But dominance by Pegula—6-2, 6-0 against Harriet Dart in 57 minutes—put the U.S. back on top, and gave the team a lead it wouldn't relinquish. 

 

"I think I did everything really well today. I could feel it," Pegula said. "Some days you come out firing and you feel really good. I was honestly trying to settle myself down because I was seeing the ball really well today."

Tiafoe kept his perfect start to 2023 in tact with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Daniel Evans to clinch the tie. The turning point came late in the second set, when the American held serve from 0-40 down at 5-5. He saved a break point in the first and third games of the decider, before earning the decisive break of Evans' serve for 4-2. 

 

Fritz and Pegula defeated Dart and Evans 6-4, 6-4 to put a bow on the tie. 

 

In the semifinals, Pegula will face world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in a match that might prove key for the Americans' hopes in the two-day tie. Pegula lost to Swiatek four times in 2022, including in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Fritz will face Hubert Hurkacz in Day 1's other singles match. 

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