United Cup: USA join Poland in final
After Poland's qualification earlier today, it's time for the second semi-final of the United Cup. The United States take on the Czech Republic in what promises to be an evenly-matched encounter.
The first match pits Coco Gauff against Karolina Muchova in a duel between former French Open finalists.
The US Open 2023 winner, who had previously dominated Donna Vekic and Shuai Zhang in singles, was more consistent and won 6-1, 6-4 in 1h27.
Despite her clear victory over Jasmine Paolini in the quarter-finals, the Czech lost to Swiatek and Gauff in this United Cup.
Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz could have sent his country through to the final if he had beaten Tomas Machac.
The Czech got off to the best possible start and won the first set in a tie-break. But just as Machac was serving for the match in the second, the tension caught up with him and he finally lost his nerve at the next changeover.
Cramped, the world's 25th-ranked player preferred to throw in the towel, and so it was Fritz who enabled the Americans to qualify for the grand final of the United Cup 2025 (6-7, 6-5 ab.) against Poland, who had beaten Kazakhstan in the first semi-final.
Winners of the first edition in 2023, the USA can become the first team to win two titles, while Poland, last year's finalists against Germany, will be looking to add their name to the competition's honours list.
