Greece, US, Poland through in United Cup

Justin Chadwick and Murray Wenzel | January 4, 2023

World No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas has produced the goods in the singles and doubles to power Greece into the semi-finals of the United Cup alongside the US, Poland and Italy.

Tsitsipas defeated Borna Coric in three sets earlier on Wednesday in the Perth city final, but the star Greek was forced to return for the mixed doubles late at night after Croatia levelled the tie at 2-2.

Maria Sakkari and Tsitsipas then teamed up to win the mixed doubles 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 against Petra Martic and Borna Gojo to seal the tie and a spot in the semi-finals, which start in Sydney on Friday.

Greece will take on lucky losers Italy, while the US face Poland in the other semi.

Italy lost 3-2 to Poland in the Brisbane city final, but earned a spot in the semis given they had the best record of the losing teams.

The US destroyed Great Britain 4-1 in Sydney to book their berth. 

“We are already spiritually there,” Tsitsipas said of the upcoming semi-final in Sydney just moments after winning in Perth. 

“I’m proud of the team. Fighters is what defines us. The first big step we took here in Perth is going to be memorable.”

Sakkari, who won her singles match 6-3 6-3 against Martic, felt her doubles combination with Tsitsipas was continuing to flourish.

“I’m so happy and proud of this team,” she said.

“Our games are clicking, and we know each other really well, and we have a great chemistry on the court, and that’s the key.”

World No.19 Frances Tiafoe sealed the win for the US over Great Britain with a tough 3-6 7-5 6-3 triumph over Dan Evans, giving his country an unassailable 3-1 lead in the tie.

Madison Keys had earlier halted British upstart Katie Swan’s fast start, winning 2-6 6-3 6-4, before Cameron Norrie levelled the tie with a 6-4 5-7 6-4 win over Taylor Fritz.

Jessica Pegula cruised past Harriet Dart to give the US a 2-1 lead, before Tiafoe saved a series of clutch break points in the second set on the way to beating Evans.

“We have our battles.Every time we play, we go to war,” Tiafoe said of his thrilling match against the world No.27.

“I’m happy the USA can keep going. It feels good. I did want to beat GB. I love all of those guys. It was a great battle today.”

In Brisbane, star Poland duo Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz won the mixed doubles 6-1 6-2 to seal a 3-2 tie victory over Italy.

Lorenzo Musetti flogged Daniel Michalski 6-1 6-1 in the opening match to give Italy a 1-0 lead, before Poland’s world No.1 Swiatek levelled it up with a 6-2 6-4 win over Martina Trevisan.

Italy’s lead was restored when world No.16 Matteo Berrettini posted a tough 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over Hurkacz, but when Magda Linette defeated Lucia Bronzetti 6-1 6-2 and Swiatek and Hurkacz combined brilliantly in the mixed doubles, Poland were celebrating.

In Perth, Tsistipas avoided a nasty case of deja vu to score a win in the first men’s singles rubber.

The favourite was in complete control before Borna Coric launched a brave fightback, saving two match points in the second set and five in total before finally falling 6-0 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 .

Coric had saved six match points on his way to beating Tsitsipas at the 2020 US Open and looked on track for a repeat when he twice had breaks in the deciding set.

Tsitsipas, mistake-free in the first set, cast aside the disappointment of three more missed match points at 6-5 to finally take the crucial point for Greece.