SYDNEY:
Inaugural champions the US and Italy handed out equivalent 3-0 thrashings to Croatia and France respectively, to prime their teams and sail into the quarter-finals of the United Cup on Tuesday.
Taylor Fritz’s 6-3, 6-2 win in opposition to Borna Coric in males’s singles ensured the U.S., who meet China within the quarter-finals, topped Group A whatever the final result of the tie within the combined group event.
The large-hitting American transformed his solely break level of the primary set within the seventh recreation after which served out the opener to surge forward.
He capitalised on a double break to go 4-0 up and went on to safe his maiden win in opposition to Coric in 91 minutes.
Coco Gauff was equally dominant in her 6-4 6-2 win over Donna Vekic in girls’s singles.
Vekic upset Gauff on the Paris Olympics and went on to win the silver medal, however in Perth the American dictated phrases as she secured the tie for her group even earlier than the combined doubles rubber.
After racing to a 4-1 lead within the first set, former U.S. Open champion Gauff by no means actually took her foot off the pedal.
“I am actually proud of how I performed right now,” Gauff stated.
“She’s an excellent participant, and the Olympics loss harm, so I undoubtedly was serious about it right now as motivation to do higher.”
Gauff and Fritz had been equally spectacular of their combined doubles win.
Earlier, Italy’s Flavio Cobolli saved a match level to get the higher of Frenchman Ugo Humbert 3-6 7-6(8) 6-2 in Group D in Sydney.
Humbert received his first 17 service factors within the second set and was serving for the match at 6-3 5-4 earlier than Cobolli produced a surprising comeback.
“It was an excellent battle to start out the season. I am actually comfortable in regards to the match,” Cobolli stated.
“I believe I performed a very good match and in addition it was robust to return again (in opposition to) Ugo.” Italy clinched the tie with a match to spare when Jasmine Paolini swept apart Chloe Paquet 6-0 6-2 in girls’s singles.