Perth (Australia) (AFP) – Coco Gauff pulled off double duty to drag defending champions the United States into the United Cup semi-finals on Wednesday while world number two Iga Swiatek did her bit for Poland. Fourth-ranked Gauff, who suffered a surprise defeat last time out, put the United States on their way in their quarter-final against Greece with a 6-3, 6-2 win over former world number three Maria Sakkari in Perth.
Stefanos Tsitsipas brought Greece level by defeating struggling Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-5. In the deciding mixed doubles, Gauff teamed up with Christian Harrison to battle past Tsitsipas and Sakkari 4-6, 6-4, 10-8. The 21-year-old Gauff struggled with her serve as she suffered her first-ever defeat at the United Cup on Monday when she was stunned by Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
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“Definitely a much better match today,” Gauff said after making light work of Sakkari. “Last match, I just tried to erase it. That’s the beauty of this tournament. So definitely happy to give my team the lead today.”
Six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek beat 97th-ranked Suzan Lamens 6-3, 6-2 in the tie against the Netherlands in Sydney. Hubert Hurkacz, on his way back after being out for seven months following knee surgery, defeated Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) as Poland sealed their last-eight spot. Poland will play hosts Australia, with the winner facing the United States for a place in Sunday’s final.
In Perth, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic beat Solana Sierra 6-2, 6-2 but a 7-5, 6-4 loss by Stan Wawrinka to Sebastian Baez sent the tie into a mixed doubles decider. The Swiss finished off the win with Bencic and Jakub Paul clinching the winning point over Maria Lourdes Carle and Guido Andreozzi 6-3, 6-3. The mixed-team United Cup features 18 teams and serves as a build-up towards the Australian Open, which starts on January 18.
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