United Cup Semifinals Highlights: Italy advanced to the final of United Cup 2023 by defeating Greece 3-1 in the semifinal tie on Saturday, 7th January 2023, Stefanos Tsitsipas has clinched the must-win contest against Matteo Berrettini in the men’s singles but Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti closed out the tie in Italy’s favour with a 78-minute 6-2, 6-3 victory over Valentini Grammatikopoulou. Earlier in the day, Follow United Cup 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
United Cup Semifinals Highlights: Italy defeat Greece 3-1, enter United Cup final, Taylor Fritz takes USA into summit clash – Follow United Cup 2023 Highlights
Greece vs Italy
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Matteo Berrettini
Tsitsipas gave his country a chance when he produced a heroic effort against Berrettini. The Greek kept alive the tie when he rallied past the Italian after two hours and 35 minutes.
After firing up the crowd, Tsitsipas, who was seemingly hanging on for much of the first two sets, used the support to his advantage. Berrettini earned a break chance at 3-2 in the decider, but missed a forehand up the line. Tsitsipas surged from there to claim his country’s first win of the tie.
“Somehow I hung in there. I was waiting for my chances. He’s a big server as we all know. He hits some bombs consistently, so you have to accept a few and you have to move on from that point, concentrate on your serve,” Tsitsipas said. “I played a very good game in that game that I broke. I was able to play with a lot of intensity and I think my concentration peaked at that particular game.”
Suddenly, despite being down a set, momentum was on Tsitsipas’ side. Berrettini, who rarely let slip his concentration during the match, misfired throughout the tie-break, which the Greek took full advantage of.
That final feeling 🎉
Team Italy book their final ticket thanks to Lucia Bronzetti’s brilliance#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/feFeqXcRY7
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 7, 2023
Valentini Grammatikopoulou vs Lucia Bronzetti
Italy lost its City Final in Brisbane against Poland, but earned a spot in Sydney as the best-placed runner-up. They have taken full advantage, and will now try to lift the trophy on Sunday.
With Greece’s No. 2 women’s singles player Despina Papamichail unable to play, the last-minute substitution of Valentini Grammatikopoulou could have been an advantage: the No.199-ranked 25-year-old had beaten Bronzetti in both of their previous meetings, including in the final of last August’s Vancouver 125 event to seal the biggest title of her career. However, an unbothered Bronzetti came out in top form.
“It was not easy, because it was the most important point,” Bronzetti said. “I felt pressure because I had to win. I knew that it would have been a tough match,” Bronzetti said. “I’m proud of myself, because I think that I had a good attitude in the court, and I also played good.”
Poland vs USA
Hubert Hurkacz vs Taylor Fritz
Hubert Hurkacz finds himself in a do-or-die situation. Poland lost both their matches on Friday and another loss for the nation will make them get eliminated.
Hurkacz’s match against Taylor Fritz will hence be the decider. Hurkacz enters the contest after losing his previous match against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. He began the tournament with a three set victory against Alexander Bublik and followed it up with straight set win over Stan Wawrinka.
Taylor Fritz meanwhile is unbeaten so far in the tournament. In the group stages, he brushed past Jiri Lehecka and Alexander Zverev in straight sets. He then clinched a come-from-behind 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Cameron Norrie in his previous match.
