Coco Gauff took her head-to-head race with Iga Swiatek a small step in the appropriate direction with a 6:4, 6:4 win of some incredible quality in Sydney. Gauff's victory gave Team USA a 1-0 lead within the United Cup final before Taylor Fritz defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(4) to win the title.
Swiatek now leads Gauff 11-3, however the American has won their last two meetings as she reworks the forehand and serve which have hampered her for many of the 2024 season. Gauff, who added grip expert Matt Daly to her coaching staff after splitting from Brad Gilbert, whipped Swiatek's notoriously heavy forehand down the lines over and all over again throughout, various the peak and spin to forestall the No. 2 World has established the baseline rhythm so often that it dominates the players.
As with the WTA Tour Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Swiatek made more unforced forehand errors than Gauff – but her groundstroke performance in Riyadh was completely flawed, while it was a much closer contest that the Pole led on multiple occasions.
Swiatek gave the impression to be hampered within the last two games by an issue together with her left thigh, a distinct problem to the appropriate thigh injury she has sustained since beating Great Britain's Katie Boulter. After a huge eighth game of the second set, by which Gauff made it 4:4, an incredible encounter ended disappointingly flat. Gauff will exit with renewed confidence within the rivalry thus far, while Swiatek will consider a split in each sets, which is each a missed opportunity and an encouragement for the remainder of the 2025 season.
“I am now convinced that I am one of the best players in the world,” said Gauff on the pitch.
Hurkacz took a 2-0 lead early within the third-set tiebreak against Fritz, who reached his first Grand Slam final on the US Open last yr and reached a career-high rating of No. 4 on the planet. But the Pole got stronger when he was ahead in two baseline changes, got here forward on the fallacious time and let Fritz take the lead.
It is Team USA's second United Cup title after winning the inaugural 2022 edition against Italy. Poland has now reached the ultimate twice and lost each times.
image credit : www.nytimes.com