The tennis pros from the USA started the new United Cup in German Group C with a win against the Czech Republic.
24-year-old Frances Tiafoe benefited from the injury-related retirement of his opponent Tomas Machac at a score of 6-3, 2-4 in Sydney to take the decisive point for the US team 4-1. Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova had previously won 7: 6 (8: 6), 6: 4 against Jessica Pegula, third in the world rankings. The Czech Republic is already under pressure before the duel with Germany on Saturday and Sunday.
Olympic champion Alexander Zverev then meets Jiri Lehecka in the preparatory tournament for the Australian Open (January 16 to 29), Wimbledon quarter-finalist Jule Niemeier has to deal with Marie Bouzkova. In addition, Laura Siegemund, Anna-Lena Friedsam, Daniel Altmaier, Oscar Otte and the doubles specialists Julia Lohoff and Fabian Fallert should score points for the German team. “We keep fighting,” said Kvitova before the duel. “We’re not the favorites here, but we’re fighting for every point.”
The USA had already won the first two singles against the Czech Republic and also prevailed in doubles. The team around US Open semi-finalist Tiafoe is the second opponent of the German team on January 2nd and 3rd. A total of 18 nations are fighting for progress in six groups of the mixed competition. The winner will be determined in the final on January 8th. Aside from Sydney, where the final round will also take place, Brisbane and Perth will be played.
