Last Updated on December 3, 2023
The 2023 United Cup, a groundbreaking mixed-gender tennis event, saw the USA team triumph with outstanding skill and teamwork. Dominating opponents like the Czech Republic, Germany, and Italy, the USA showcased a stellar 22-2 match record, led by star players. For an in-depth look at their journey and key highlights, read the full article.
The 2023 United Cup marked an exciting beginning to the tennis season, setting a precedent as the first edition of this mixed-gender team tennis event. The ATP and the WTA organized the tournament from 29 December 2022 to 8 January 2023. Embracing a global flair, matches were played across three Australian cities – Brisbane, Perth, and Sydney, at venues like the Pat Rafter Arena, RAC Arena, and Ken Rosewall Arena. This unique event stood out as it was the first mixed-gender team competition to offer both ATP and WTA ranking points to participants.
The tournament format featured a mix of men’s and women’s singles matches, along with mixed doubles, adhering to a round-robin format in the initial stages. Teams from various countries competed in two groups across each host city, with winners advancing to further rounds.
Ultimately, the champions were the USA, demonstrating unprecedented skill and teamwork. In this article, we will go through their entire path to the trophy.
Group Stage
| Pos. | Country | Ties | Matches | Sets | Sets % | Games | Games % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 2–0 | 9–1 | 18–4 | 82% | 105–71 | 60% |
| 2 | Czech Republic | 1–1 | 4–6 | 9–12 | 43% | 91–88 | 51% |
| 3 | Germany | 0–2 | 2–8 | 5–16 | 24% | 80–117 | 41% |
During the group stage of the 2023 United Cup, the United States delivered an impressive performance, showcasing their prowess in tennis. The team competed in Group C, which was hosted in the city of Sydney. The format of the competition included a series of matches comprising two men’s and two women’s singles matches, along with one mixed doubles match.
United States vs. Czech Republic
Score: 4-1
| Players | Score |
| Taylor Fritz – Jiri Lehecka | 6-3,6-4 |
| Madison Keys – Marie Bouzkova | 6-4,6-3 |
| Jessica Pegula – Petra Kvitova | 6-7,4-6 |
| Frances Tiafoe – Tomas Machac | 6-3,2-4 Ret. |
| Jessica Pegula / Taylor Fritz – Marie Bouzkova / Jiri Lehecka | 2-6,6-3,[10-7] |
In their first match, the United States faced off against the Czech Republic and emerged victorious with a commanding score of 4-1. Key highlights included Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys winning their singles matches convincingly, along with a mixed doubles victory. However, in one of the women’s singles matches, Jessica Pegula faced a tough challenge but ultimately secured a win.
United States vs. Germany
Score: 5-0
| Players | Score |
| Taylor Fritz – Alexander Zverev | 6-1,6-4 |
| Madison Keys – Jule Niemeier | 6-2,6-3 |
| Jessica Pegula – Laura Siegemund | 6-3,6-2 |
| Frances Tiafoe – Oscar Otte | 7-5,6-4 |
| Jessica Pegula / Frances Tiafoe – Laura Siegemund / Daniel Altmaier | 6-7,6-4,[10-7] |
The second match for the United States was against Germany, where they demonstrated even greater dominance. The U.S. team swept the German team with a flawless 5-0 score. This time, every member of the U.S. team won their matches in both singles and doubles categories. Such a strong performance in both matches led to the United States finishing at the top of their group with a remarkable record of 9 wins and only 1 loss in sets.
Knockout Stage
In the knockout stage held in Sydney, the United States faced Great Britain and secured a convincing victory with a score of 4-1. This win was highlighted by strong performances in both the singles and doubles matches. Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe notably won their singles matches, contributing significantly to the team’s success. The doubles team also performed exceptionally, ensuring the United States’ advancement to the semifinals.
United States vs. Great Britain
Score: 4-1
| Players | Score |
| Taylor Fritz – Cameron Norrie | 4-6,7-5,4-6 |
| Madison Keys – Katie Swan | 2-6,6-3,6-4 |
| Jessica Pegula – Harriet Dart | 6-3,6-2 |
| Frances Tiafoe – Dan Evans | 3-6,7-5,6-3 |
| Jessica Pegula / Taylor Fritz – Harriet Dart / Dan Evans | 6-4,6-4, |
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- United Cup 2024: ATP & WTA Players Announced, Huge Prize Money Up for Grabs
Semifinal Stage
In the semifinals, the U.S. faced Poland and emerged victorious with a decisive 5-0 win. Each player contributed significantly, leaving no room for doubt about their capability to win. Taylor Fritz, a key member of the U.S. team, reflected on their performance with pride and confidence. He said, “It was great to get the win today to get us through. I had no doubt that if I were to lose that the rest of the team would have come through. But I’ve played with Team USA a lot. I think it’s a huge advantage this time having the girls on our team because it just makes the whole team so much stronger. I’m super excited going into the final and I think we’ve been the favourites all week.”
United States vs. Poland
Score: 5-0
| Players | Score |
| Taylor Fritz – Hubert Hurkacz | 7-6,7-6 |
| Madison Keys – Magda Linette | 6-4,6-2 |
| Jessica Pegula – Iga Swiatek | 6-2,6-2 |
| Frances Tiafoe – Dan Evans | 3-6,7-5,6-3 |
| Jessica Pegula / Taylor Fritz – Alicja Rosolska / Lukasz Kubot | 6-7,6-4,10-6 |
Final Stage
In the final stage of the 2023 United Cup, Team USA delivered a stellar performance, showcasing their skills and teamwork to secure a remarkable victory. Taylor Fritz played a pivotal role in the team’s success, especially in his match against Matteo Berrettini, who had previously achieved Top 10 victories in the event. Despite missing nine break point opportunities, Fritz remained composed and executed his game plan effectively in the critical tie-breaks. He shared his feelings about the moment, saying, “Just the emotions when you win and everyone comes running at you, it’s amazing. I don’t know if you saw the replay but Frances basically headbutted me!”
Madison Keys furthered the team’s success with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win over Lucia Bronzetti, maintaining her unbeaten record. Her performance was dominant, marked by a remarkable 22 winners and a strong serving game that left 18 serves unreturned, including a decisive service winner on match point.
Both Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe, as the No. 2 singles players, finished the United Cup with a flawless 5-0 record. Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz each completed the event with a 4-1 record. Collectively, Team USA concluded the United Cup with an impressive 22-2 match record, underscoring their dominance throughout the tournament.
United States vs. Italy
Score: 4-0
| Players | Score |
| Taylor Fritz – Matteo Berrettini | 7-6,7-6 |
| Madison Keys – Lucia Bronzetti | 6-3,6-2 |
| Jessica Pegula – Martina Trevisan | 6-4,6-2 |
| Frances Tiafoe – Lorenzo Musetti | 6-2,0-0 ret |
| Jessica Pegula / Taylor Fritz – Alicja Rosolska / Lukasz Kubot | not played |
