Fritz/Pegula clinch dramatic win for United States

The United States came from behind in the decisive mixed doubles rubber against Great Britain on Sunday to clinch a 2-1 victory in Group C, moving to 1-0 at the mixed-teams event.

With the tie level at 1-1, Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula defeated Katie Boulter and Neal Skupski 1-6, 7-6(4), 10-7. The United States is aiming to defend its title, having triumphed at the tournament last season.

The United States will now qualify for the quarter-finals if they beat Australia on Monday night. The winner of Group C will advance to the quarter-finals in Perth. Great Britain end Group play holding a 1-1 record, having beaten Australia 2-1. Australia, led by Alex de Minaur, is still alive, but must overcome the United States.

"I had a really tough match," Pegula said. "First match back for the season, almost three hours long. Brutal heat. But she played great. She played unbelievable. I felt like I played pretty well. There's things I could have done better. But first match. We'll just keep trying to learn and improve.

"Then Taylor took care of business, thank goodness. I thought he played great, was serving well. We were able to turn around that mixed match, which was really important. We're still undefeated in mixed."

Earlier, Fritz kept the United States alive when he defeated Cameron Norrie 7-6(5), 6-4, gaining revenge for his defeat to the British lefty at the mixed-teams event last season.

Meeting for the 14th time in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, Fritz and Norrie exchanged heavy blows in the hot Perth conditions. Fritz recovered from squandering a 4-1 lead in the first set, sealing the opener in the tie-break. He then gained the decisive break of the second set in the ninth game, advancing after one hour and 47 minutes. The World No. 10, who received medical treatment on his left thigh during the match, now leads Norrie 8-6 in career meetings.

"I played really well," Fritz said. "It's tough. When I play Cam, it can go, it goes either way. We've played each other so many times. We go back and forth a lot. So luckily I was able to play well and get the win."

Great Britain's Boulter pulled off the win of the United Cup so far on Sunday with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over the United States' Pegula in Group C action.

After leading the U.S. team to the title 12 months ago in the competition's first edition - she went 8-1 across singles and doubles last year - Pegula looked on course for a fairly uncomplicated win to open the Americans' title defense. In the match's first hour, she turned a 4-2 first-set deficit to a 7-5, 3-0 lead -- winning six straight games after saved three set points on serve at 4-5.

But Boulter caught fire from a set and double-break down, and after two hours and 44 minutes, scored her first-ever Top 5 victory in her seventh attempt. Her best previous win by ranking came in 2022, when she beat then-World No.7 Karolina Pliskova twice in a month's span on grass in Eastbourne and at Wimbledon.

It's a CAREER-FIRST top-five win for @katiecboulter 🤩

WHAT A MATCH!#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/09kcN1aLqV

— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 31, 2023

After the first two hours of play and two split sets, Pegula broke serve to start the decider but never again led. Boulter responded immediately, and neither woman had break point until the Brit seized a 30/40 chance in the eighth game. Though she failed to serve out victory, she wouldn't be denied, and broke for an eighth and final time to seal the upset.

Twenty forehand winners -- and 23/30 points won at net -- helped Boulter's cause.