Pegula Upsets Swiatek To Give USA Lead Over Poland In United Cup SF Day 1

The first day of the United Cup semifinals in Sydney saw Jessica Pegula stun world No. 1 Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-2 to help the USA jump out to a 2-0 lead over Poland.

“Conditions are totally different than anywhere else I’ve played her,” said Pegula who was 0-4 against Swiatek last year. “Obviously maybe I had a little bit of an advantage, they just flew in yesterday. Definitely the fastest conditions I have played here.

“Every other place I’ve played her has been pretty slow. I think that favored me a lot, and I was able to use that to my advantage and play a really super clean match. I think I just was able to execute my game plan probably better than I have previous times.”

Frances Tiafoe then cruised past Kacper Zuk 6-3, 6-3.

Tomorrow, Taylor Fritz will collide with Hubert Hurkacz. In needed, Madison Keys will take on Magda Linette with mixed doubles to follow. Team USA is now 15-2 in matches so far.

“I have a belief that we can do a lot,” Swiatek said. “Magda played really solid match two days ago, so I hope she’s going to be confident. I would say they are both 50/50, but it depends. I will do my best on the bench. I wasn’t able to do that on court today, but I will do my best to cheer and help them.”

In the other semifinal, Italy has already built a 2-0 lead over Greece. Lorenzo Musetti rolled but the big win came from French semifinalist Martina Trevisan who upset Maria Sakkari 7-5 in the third. Sakkari was 12-0 in sets at the Cup until the loss. Trevisan also stunned Sakkari at the 2020 French Open saving multiple match points.

Stefanos Tsitsipas will meet Matteo Berrettini in a big clash Saturday. Berrettini can eliminate Greece and put Italy into the final with a win.

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