Fritz thanks Gauff ‘for carrying the team’ in win over Canada, Boulter and Broom help GB win opener

Taylor Fritz thanked Coco Gauff for inspiring the USA to a 2-1 win in their United Cup clash with Canada.

The pair overcame Felix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez 7-6(2) 7-5 in a must-win mixed doubles match in Group A after Fritz fell to defeat in the men’s singles.

The result leaves the USA top of Group A ahead of their tie against Croatia in Perth.

Fritz was delighted to stay in the competition, but admitted that he had Gauff to thank after she stormed to victory in the women’s singles.

“After the way I lost my singles match, it would have been really tough to go home today with a mixed doubles loss today as well,” Fritz said.

“Thank you Coco for carrying the team, and we got it done.”

Fritz and Gauff were broken in both sets of their mixed doubles decider, but battled back on both occasions to seal the win.

Canada’s hopes of progressing from Group A are now out of their hands, and they will have to wait until the result of the USA’s matches with Croatia to learn if they will make it to the next stage.

Gauff defeated Fernandez 6-3 6-2 in the women’s singles, and she was happy with the USA’s performance in the mixed doubles.

“Really happy with how we played today in the mixed,” Gauff added.

“I felt we got better the longer the match went.

“We had a lot of chances and finally, we were able to stick ’em when it mattered.”

Katie Boulter and Charles Broom beat Maria Lourdes Carle and Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(4), 7-5 in the third and deciding United Cup match between Great Britain and Argentina.

The British pair sealed a 2-1 win in their Group F opener on Monday in Sydney. Boulter gave Great Britain a 1-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-3 victory against Nadia Podoroska before she partnered with Broom at the Ken Rosewall Arena for the decider.

Argentina had levelled the tie after Etcheverry beat Billy Harris 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

“I’m so glad we came out. I feel like we both played so great together considering it’s our first time. But I’m just thrilled to get the win.”

Carle bravely staved off two British break points in the second set of their mixed doubles clash but could not stop Boulter from capitalising on a third. At 5-5, the 28-year-old Brit fired a big forehand before rocketing a serve to clinch the win.

“[There] might have been a few nerves. But I feel like playing with Katie, she’s so experienced,” Broom added. “She helped me through that in a number of ways. I thought we gelled so well together on the court, good energy and the crowd was great as well getting us through in a few tight moments, so that kind of settles you down. Looking forward to the next one against Australia.”

Great Britain face Australia in their next Group F encounter on January 1. A win against the hosts will see them advance to the quarter-finals of the mixed-teams competition.

Depending on the outcome of Great Britain’s tie with Australia, Argentina and Australia still have a chance to win the group and qualify.

Iga Swiatek led Poland to a thrilling 2-1 win over Norway in Group B of the United Cup on Monday.

The world No. 2 partnered with Jan Zielinski in the deciding match of the tie, beating Ulrikke Eikeri and Casper Ruud 6-3, 0-6, 10-8 to clinch the win for their country.

Swiatek opened the tie with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 victory over Malene Helgo. 

An under-pressure Ruud responded by beating Hubert Hurkacz in his singles match, surging past the Pole 7-5, 6-3 to keep his country’s hopes of qualifying alive after losing to Czechia.

But a deciding mixed-doubles match that went down to the third set saw Poland eliminate Norway from the United Cup. 

“Even though the second set was 0-6, we knew it was very close. It was a matter of single points, deciding points, 0/30 we had a couple times. We knew this could change at any moment,” Zielinski added. 

“They had their momentum at some point, 8/7 serving, Casper, so we were not in the ideal position. But we stayed tough, we showed some good returns and best tennis when it mattered, so I’m happy with the outcome.” 

The winner between Poland and Czechia on Wednesday will win Group B and advance to the quarter-finals of the mixed-teams competition.

Naomi Osaka made a winning start to her season as she aims to rediscover her form following an inconsistent 2024.

The four-time Grand Slam champion overcame 24-year-old Lina Glushko 6-4, 6-4 at the Auckland Open on Monday.

In only her fourth WTA main-draw match, Glusko gave Osaka a tough start and made her work for points, with the Japanese star only breaking serve once in the first set.

“It was good to have to, I guess, scrap a little for the first round,” she added.

The second set saw her lose a 3-1 lead as her Israeli opponent notched up three games in a row, only for Osaka to regroup and win the final three games with a total of one hour and 25 minutes on the clock.

“I just kept trying to tell myself ‘one point at a time,’ and try not to get discouraged,” Osaka said. “Thankfully it came out in my favour at the end.”

Osaka has struggled to regain the form that saw her become world No. 1 since returning to the court after the birth of her daughter in July 2023. This was her first appearance at the Auckland tournament since reaching the 2017 quarter-finals as a teenager.

She faces Austria’s Julia Grabher in the round of 16.