Day 3 at the 2024 United Cup sees Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula lead the United States’ charge for more magical memories Down Under.
A year ago, Fritz and Pegula were integral as their country became champion at the inaugural United Cup. The Top 10 stars will hope to kick-start another successful campaign at the mixed-teams event when they meet Great Britain on Sunday morning at Perth’s RAC Arena.
The Americans will be wary of a Great Britain team full of confidence, however. Cameron Norrie and Katie Boulter notched singles wins to down host nation Australia on Day 1 and Fritz believes the truncated three-rubber ties at this year’s event mean how he gels with Pegula on the doubles court could be key.
“I just think we're going to see a lot more matches come down to the mixed doubles, and that's something that not a lot of the players I guess have a lot of experience in,” said Fritz, the No. 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. “The pressure is going to show in those moments and it's going to make for some really exciting matches.”
From waaaaay downtown 🏀
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 30, 2023
Team USA 🤝 @PerthWildcats@westaustralia #WAtheDreamState pic.twitter.com/aqZoC4A8wF
The WTA World No. 5 Pegula racked up a 4-1 singles record at the United Cup in 2023 and the 29-year-old is keen to get her team — and her 2024 season — off to a fast start when she faces Boulter in the opening match.
“I think obviously to start the year well to get some matches here I think is really important for the whole year, and to get that momentum going,” said Pegula, who won two WTA Tour singles titles last season. “I think just starting the year off right, trying to have a good, positive mentality, knowing I've had some great last couple of years, and it's going to be even tougher now to keep that going.”
One man who knows plenty about momentum is Novak Djokovic. The No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings will take to court for Serbia against China in the Perth evening session looking to round out a calendar year during which he has won three Grand Slam crowns, two ATP Masters 1000 titles and lifted a record seventh Nitto ATP Finals trophy.
The 36-year-old Djokovic plays Zhang Zhizhen in the opening match of the Group E tie, Serbia's first in United Cup history, before his teammate Olga Danilovic takes on Zheng Qinwen. China is looking to back up its impressive 3-0 opening win against Czech Republic in Western Australia.
“They are in form,” said Djokovic of the China team. “They have great players. [There is a] big Chinese community here and also [a big] Serbian community. Hopefully we can feel the energy on the stands and support for both nations and really celebrate the New Year's in best possible way for Serbians.”
Sydney will host just one tie on Sunday ahead of the city’s renowned new year’s celebrations — an intriguing Group B clash between Canada and Chile. Canadian WTA World No. 20 Leylah Fernandez, who opens against Daniela Seguel, will spearhead her nation’s charge for further success in teams events — Canada’s men lifted the Davis Cup in 2022 before Fernandez and her countrywomen triumphed at the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup.
Steven Diez meets the high-powered Nicolas Jarry in the ATP singles match, with Felix Auger-Aliassime set to step in to partner Fernandez in the mixed doubles.
ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2023
KEN ROSEWALL ARENA start 10:30 am
[7] L. Fernandez (CAN) vs D. Seguel (CHI)
[7] S. Diez (CAN) vs N. Jarry (CHI)
[7] L. Fernandez (CAN) / F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN) vs D. Seguel (CHI) / N. Jarry (CHI)
RAC ARENA start 10:00 am
[3] J. Pegula (USA) vs [8] K. Boulter (GBR)
[3] T. Fritz (USA) vs [8] C. Norrie (GBR)
[3] J. Pegula (USA) / T. Fritz (USA) vs [8] K. Boulter (GBR) / N. Skupski (GBR)
Not Before 5:00 pm
[9] Z. Zhang (CHN) vs [13] N. Djokovic (SRB)
[9] Q. Zheng (CHN) vs [13] O. Danilovic (SRB)
[9] Q. Zheng (CHN) / Z. Zhang (CHN) vs [13] O. Danilovic (SRB) / N. Djokovic (SRB)
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