The United Cup holds a special place in the hearts of Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula. Last season they played an instrumental role in helping the United States to glory at the inaugural edition of the mixed-teams event.
Twelve months on and they are ready to defend the title again, with Fritz excited by the format. Last season, each tie consisted of five rubbers: four singles and one mixed doubles. This year, there are just two singles matches (one men’s, one women’s) and one mixed doubles.
The change is likely to result in more ties being decided by the mixed doubles rubber, a crucial aspect that makes the tournament unique.
“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 pressure is going to show in those moments and it's going to make for some really exciting matches.”
Fritz and Pegula, who won all three of the mixed doubles matches they played together at the event last season, hit together on Thursday evening in the RAC Arena in Perth.
The United States is in Group C alongside home nation Australia and Great Britain. Fritz is ready for the upcoming tests and knows both he and Pegula will have to be at their Top 10 best to earn victories.
“It was awesome obviously winning it last year, but I think this year with the format change, it makes it a lot tougher for our team,” said Fritz, who was joined by Top 20 stars Frances Tiafoe and Madison Keys at the event last year. “The format last year was in favour for teams with a lot of depth, so even if Jess and I didn't perform, we still had our No. 2s that we felt very confident in all the matchups. Definitely tougher this year, but we're ready to go.”
World No. 5 Jessica Pegula won four of her five singles matches at the tournament last season and used the momentum she gained in Sydney to reach the quarter-finals at the Australian Open a few weeks later.
The 29-year-old is hoping for similar results at the start of 2024.
“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 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. Just playing one match at a time I think has worked really well for me.
“Last year I had a lot of really big wins, big tournament wins, too. Hopefully I can just carry that experience throughout the year.”
United States will face Great Britain in its opening Group C tie on Sunday. Before their campaign commences, Fritz and Pegula visited Scarborough beach on Friday afternoon to meet Perth Wildcats basketball captain Jesse Wagstaff and teammate Kristian Doolittle. The foursome discussed their sports and took time to shoot hoops.
Photo Credits: Tennis Australia
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