Coco Gauff leads US past Greece into United Cup semi-finals, while Swiss eliminate Argentina
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
The United States' Coco Gauff during the United Cup quarter-final mixed doubles match against Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in Perth on Jan 7, when Gauff and Christian Harrison prevailed 4-6, 6-4, 10-8.
PHOTO: EPA
Follow topic:
PERTH – Coco Gauff pulled off double duty to drag defending champions the United States into the United Cup semi-finals on Jan 7, while world No. 2 Iga Swiatek did her bit for Poland.
Fourth-ranked Gauff, who suffered a surprise defeat last time out, put the US on their way in their quarter-final against Greece with a 6-3, 6-2 win over former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari in Perth.
Stefanos Tsitsipas brought Greece level by defeating struggling Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-5, but Gauff teamed up with Christian Harrison to battle past Tsitsipas and Sakkari 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 in the deciding mixed doubles.
The 21-year-old Gauff had struggled with her serve as she suffered her first defeat at the United Cup on Jan 5
“Definitely a much better match today,” she said. “Last match, I just tried to erase it. That’s the beauty of this tournament. So definitely happy to give my team the lead today.”
Switzerland were also through to the semi-finals, where they face Belgium or the Czech Republic, after Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul beat Argentina’s Maria Lourdes Carle and Guido Andreozzi 6-3, 6-3 in the mixed doubles.
Sebastian Baez had pulled Argentina level in their quarter-final clash by defeating Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 6-4, after Bencic’s 6-2, 6-2 win over Solana Sierra.
In Sydney, six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek beat 97th-ranked Suzan Lamens 6-3, 6-2 in the round-robin tie against the Netherlands.
“I feel like after first few games, I improved my level, and I was more precise with my footwork,” she said. “I think it was an improvement comparing to the last match.”
Hubert Hurkacz, on his way back after being out for seven months following knee surgery, defeated Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) as Poland sealed their last-eight spot.
“After such a long period you’re just so excited to be out there and it also gives you a different perspective on things,” Hurkacz said. “I think that’s why I’m able to perform maybe better and even stay calm in the difficult moments.”
Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski then beat Demi Schuurs and David Pel 6-3, 3-6, 10-4 in the dead-rubber mixed doubles.
Poland will play hosts Australia, with the winners facing the United States for a place in the Jan 11 final.
The mixed-team United Cup serves as a build-up towards the Australian Open, which starts on Jan 18.
Other players are warming up for the year’s first Grand Slam at the Brisbane International.
Former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev extended his impressive start to the season with a straight-set win over Frances Tiafoe in Brisbane on Jan 7.
The top seed took just an hour to defeat the American 6-3, 6-2 following his equally ruthless first-round win over Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics on Jan 5.
Medvedev served superbly against Tiafoe and did not face a break point in reaching the third round.
The 29-year-old Russian has conceded that the world’s top two, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, are out of reach of the other players on the men’s ATP Tour.
But he also said that anything can happen at a Grand Slam, and he has shown in the first two rounds in Brisbane that he will be one of the challengers at Melbourne Park.
“I’m really happy with the way I played the two matches,” said Medvedev, a three-time beaten finalist at the Australian Open.
“It’s kind of continuing what I started doing at the end of the last year, already playing better and better.
“But these two matches (this week) I think were even better and I’m happy that some things I worked on in the pre-season seemed to work here.”
Defending champion Jiri Lehecka was forced to retire from his match against Sebastian Korda of the US. Korda won the first set 6-3 and was on serve in the second set when Lehecka pulled out with an ankle injury.
In the women’s draw, second seed and world No. 3 Amanda Anisimova had a straightforward win over Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, 6-1, 6-3.
Rising Russian star Mirra Andreeva, 18, had a tougher fight before seeing off Australian qualifier Olivia Gadecki 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. AFP
