United Cup: USA tops Italy and wins inaugural title

Team USA dominated the inaugural United Cup to lift the trophy in style! Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys were too strong for all the rivals, scoring dominant overall victories and celebrating in Sydney. The USA faced Italy in the final and won the opening three ties to wrap up the action and become the first champions. Frances Tiafoe and Lorenzo Musetti stepped on the court first, playing only one set. The American grabbed breaks in games two and seven to forge the advantage before the Italian retired after losing the set 6-2. Jessica Pegula toppled Martina Trevisan 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 30 minutes to push her country 2-0 in front. The American lost serve three times and delivered six breaks from nine opportunities to control the scoreboard. Pegula built a 3-0 advantage in the first set before Trevisan broke twice in a row to lock the result at 4-4.

The USA won the inaugural United Cup over Italy.

Pegula made another push and grabbed the third break in game ten to take the opener 6-4. Jessica served great and earned back-to-back breaks to move 5-0 up and closer to the finish line. Trevisan prolonged the duel with a late break at 1-5 before giving her serve away in the next one to propel Pegula over the top. Taylor Fritz delivered the decisive point for the USA following a tight 7-6, 7-6 victory over Matteo Berrettini in two hours and 15 minutes. Taylor defeated Matteo for the third time from as many encounters, firing 15 aces and never facing a break points. Berrettini survived all the challenges and defended all nine break chances to remain competitive.

However, the American won the crucial points in the tie breaks to bring the victory home and start a massive celebration with his team. Matteo erased four break chances in the encounter’s opening two service games and gained the rhythm after that to follow Taylor’s pace. The set went into a tie break, and Fritz earned four mini-breaks to win it 7-4. The Italian survived break points in the second set’s games three and seven to stay in touch. The second tie break was tighter, with two rivals staying neck and neck at 5-5 and 6-6. Matteo saved a match point at 5-6 with a mighty forehand before losing an extended rally to face the second match point. The Italian sprayed a forehand error to hand the victory to the American, who celebrated it with his teammates.