United Cup Semifinals Highlights: Jessica Pegula gave the United States the perfect start to their United Cup semi-final. She stormed past the World No.1 Iga Swiatek in straight sets 6-2 6-2 in the opening singles rubber on Friday. In the next contest, Frances Tiafoe doubled their advantage. He defeated Kacper Zuk 6-3 6-3. Italy too led Greece 2-0 with Martina Trevisan and Lorenzo Musetti clincing victories in their respective singles tie. Follow United Cup 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
United Cup Semifinals Highlights: Lorenzo Musetti & Martina Trevisan give Italy 2-0 lead against Greece, USA lead 2-0 against Poland in semifinals of United Cup – Follow United Cup Highlights
Greece vs Italy
Three hours and fifteen minutes of TRE-rrific tennis 😁 🙌 🇮🇹@MartinaTrevisa3 | #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/PyY742XwK7
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 6, 2023
Maria Sakkari vs Martina Trevisan
Trevisan pulled off a milestone hard-court win by upsetting Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-5. At three hours and 15 minutes, the match was the longest of the tournament so far, and was the third Top 10 win of Trevisan’s career. However, it was by far the Roland Garros semi-finalist’s finest performance away from the terre battue: she had previously never defeated a Top 50 player off clay, nor even taken a set from a Top 20 player.
“I’m very happy. I’m very happy, because I think it’s the one incredible match for me on the hard courts. I’m very happy with the way I fought today, having Vincenzo and Matteo close to me helped me a lot. Also my teammates helped me a lot,” Trevisan said. “But I’m happy because I kept the energy for all the match. It was very difficult, because I wanted [it] so much, the match was so long. But I think the key was I kept the energy for all the match.”
Martina and Musetti show 🤩@Lorenzo1Musetti copied his close friend @MartinaTrevisa3 to chalk up 2️⃣-0️⃣ for Italy#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/6w3dSn7R8b
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 6, 2023
Michail Pervoralakis vs Lorenzo Musetti
Lorenzo Musetti extended Team Italy’s lead over Team Greece to 2-0 in the United Cup Final Four. Musetti maintained his perfect record at the mixed-teams event (4-0). He defeated Stefanos Sakellaridis 6-1, 6-1 in just 62 minutes. The No. 23 player in the ATP Rankings won the match to give his country a commanding lead.
Musetti also gave Matteo Berrettini a chance to close out the tie on Saturday evening against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Lucia Bronzetti is scheduled to face Despina Papamichail in the No. 2 women’s singles match.
“Martina was not the only one playing tonight, because with her I think [was] all the entire squad maybe. I think it’s probably the best match so far in this competition for us, because [it] was really stressful even from our side,” Musetti said.
“As I said on court, we are really close friends, even outside of this competition. So the meaning of the win for her, I’m really, really happy, because I think she deserves it.” The winner of the tie will face Team United States or Team Poland (Team United States leads 2-0).
Poland vs USA
Iga Swiatek vs Jessica Pegula
Jessica Pegula scored her first win over a reigning World No. 1, racing past Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-2 in just 71 minutes. Pegula had lost to Swiatek in all three of their 2022 encounters. But she had one prior victory to draw on, in the second round of Washington in 2019 en route to her own maiden title, and added to that in style.
“I played her today, conditions are totally different than anywhere else I played her. Obviously maybe I had a little bit of an advantage, they just flew in yesterday,” Pegula said. “Definitely the fastest conditions I have played her [in]. Every other place I’ve played her has been pretty slow. I think that favoured me a lot, and I was able to use that to my advantage and play a really super clean match. I think I just was able to execute my game plan probably better than I have previous times.”
And still undefeated 🔥🇺🇸@FTiafoe notches up another victory for Team USA, giving them a 2-0 lead against Team Poland in their semifinal.#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/gAHXItalAI
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 6, 2023
Daniel Michalski vs Frances Tiafoe
The 24-year-old Tiafoe, who enjoyed the best season of his career in 2022, made a quick start and never looked back. Although Zuk provided resistance, especially once the Pole fell behind early in the second set, he was unable to put the American into much difficulty.
Tiafoe triumphed against Zuk, who replaced Daniel Michalski (illness) after one hour and 20 minutes. He saved all five break points he faced inside Ken Rosewall Arena.
“I didn’t even know my first opponent I was supposed to play. So when they switched it, I was, like, Alright, great, I’m in the same position I was,” Tiafoe said. “It was kind of, whatever. I was just going to kind of wing it and see what happens. Feel the guy out a little bit and kind of see what happens. Try to just worry about my side of the court and we’ll figure it out.”
United Cup Semifinals Highlights: Lorenzo Musetti & Martina Trevisan give Italy 2-0 lead against Greece, USA lead 2-0 against Poland in semifinals of United Cup – Follow United Cup Highlights
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