Fritz fires USA up ahead of Australia United Cup clash
George Clarke |
Australia’s quarter-finals hopes hinge on a must-win meeting with reigning United Cup champions the USA after the Americans’ 2-1 victory over Great Britain.
The British took an early lead in Sunday’s tie against the US at RAC Arena when Katie Boulter upset world No.5 Jessica Pegula 5-7 6-4 6-4.
World No.10 Taylor Fritz, who will face Alex de Minaur on Monday night, squared the ledger for the Americans with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win over Cameron Norrie.
Fritz and Pegula claimed the mixed doubles with a 1-6 7-6 10-7 (match tiebreak) victory over Boulter and Neal Skupski.
Australia, beaten 2-1 by Britain on the tournament’s opening night, must defeat the US 3-0 on Monday night to be guaranteed a quarter-final berth.
Fritz had to take a medical time out in his singles match after struggling with a quad injury sustained through extra sprint training.
“It’s always a battle with Cam and it got pretty close at the end of the first set, but in the second I just hung in there with my serve,” Fritz said.
“I don’t really sprint that often but I carried that into today.
“I felt really sore and I overdid it running for a drop shot but I got through.”
Later in Perth, Serbia ace and defending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic gets his season underway against Zhang Zhizhen of China as he looks to build towards winning a record-breaking 11th slam down under.
Elsewhere on Sunday, former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez showed her class by powering Canada to a 2-1 victory over Chile.
The world No.35 made light work of Daniela Seguel in the women’s singles with a 6-2 6-3 win at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, before teaming up with Steven Diez in the mixed doubles.
Diez, who lost 7-5 6-4 to Nicolas Jarry in the singles rubber, stepped in for Felix Auger-Aliassime, who was sidelined with a minor knee issue.
The pairing of Diez and 21-year-old Fernandez were made to fight their way past Tomas Barrios Vera and Seguel, eventually prevailing 10-8 in a match tiebreak after sharing sets 7-5 4-6.
“I’m extremely happy with the way I played,” Fernandez said, after dispatching Seguel in little more than an hour.
“It wasn’t the greatest match because it is my first match of the season – the nerves – but I’m extremely happy with the way that I was able to manage it.
“I enjoyed myself on the court and I’m just finding solutions
“I couldn’t contain my happiness because I saw the hard work paying off and hopefully I can do more of that this year.”
AAP
