World No.3 Coco Gauff engineered a dominant performance to move the United States to within a point of advancing to the United Cup final. Gauff raced through a 6-1, 6-4 victory over No.22 Karolina Muchova to improve to a perfect 4-0 against the talented Czech.
United Cup: Scores | Draws | Order of Play
“It’s never easy against Karolina,” Gauff said. “The whole match I was intense and focused and I think that made the difference today. Happy to get my team off to a good start here in Sydney.”
The task now falls to World No.4 Taylor Fritz, who will have a chance to seal the win for the Americans when he faces Tomas Machac in the second singles match.
The top-seeded Americans are battling it out for the right to face No.2 seeds Poland in Sunday’s final. The Americans took home the title two years ago in the event’s inaugural edition, with Fritz teaming up with Jessica Pegula to deliver the win.
“It’s a tough match, Machac is a great player,” Gauff said. “I have full confidence in Taylor. He’s a great player, he has one of the best mindsets on tour. I don’t take that lightly. After spending time with him at the Olympics on the mixed court, and then today and this past week, this is just the beginning. That’s why today I have a lot of confidence he’ll pull out the win. And if not, I’ll be ready to play mixed.”
Entering Saturday night’s showdown at Ken Rosewall Arena, Gauff had never lost a set to Muchova, winning all six contested. Showing no signs of fatigue from the cross-country trip from Perth, Gauff came out of the gates hot and confident. She needed less than 10 minutes to build a 3-0 lead and closed out the opening set by saving two break points in her final game.
Gauff led 4-2 in the second set before Muchova settled in and broke the American’s serve for the first time, doing it in style with a pitch-perfect volley. But Gauff’s baseline defense proved too much for Muchova. Muchova handed the break back with an errant game and Gauff served out the 90-minute win.
In a thrilling start to the United Cup semifinals, rising tennis star Coco Gauff delivered an early lead for Team USA with a commanding performance on the court. Gauff’s powerful serves and impressive court coverage gave Team USA the advantage against their opponents, setting the tone for an exciting match ahead.
The young phenom’s skill and determination were on full display as she dominated her opponent with her aggressive playing style. Gauff’s precision shots and strategic play kept the crowd on the edge of their seats, cheering her on as she secured crucial points for her team.
With Gauff leading the way, Team USA is off to a strong start in the semifinals of the United Cup. As the competition heats up, all eyes will be on Gauff and her teammates as they look to secure a spot in the finals and bring home the coveted trophy for their country. Stay tuned for more updates as the United Cup action continues to unfold! #TeamUSA #UnitedCup #CocoGauff
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