SYDNEY, Australia -- The United States had sprinted to a 2-0 lead against Poland on Friday in the United Cup semifinals, and American Taylor Fritz finished the job Saturday morning.
Fritz edged Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(5), 7-6(5) in the No.1 men's singles match to give his country an insurmountable 3-0 lead.
Madison Keys then defeated Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2 before Fritz and Jessica Pegula then completed a 5-0 sweep with a 6-7(5), 6-4, [10-6] mixed doubles win against Lukasz Kubot and Alicja Rosolska.
Team USA is now 4-0 in mixed doubles in Sydney.
"It was great to get the win today to get us through," Fritz said. "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.
Italy outlasts Greece to reach United Cup final
"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 favorites all week."
Semifinal Triumph (Taylor's Version) 🇺🇸🙌@Taylor_Fritz97 sends Team USA into the #UnitedCup final with an unassailable 3-0 lead over Team Poland. pic.twitter.com/QEHOWv7Fjm
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 7, 2023
In the championship match, the U.S. will face Italy, which knocked off Greece later Saturday.
Fritz won 88% of his first serve points and was able to maneuver into comfortable positions in points behind his serve.
Hurkacz earned two set points at 5-4 in the first set but missed a mid-rally crosscourt forehand on his first opportunity and a forehand return just long on his second.
Neither player relinquished a mini break in the ensuing tiebreak through the first 11 points. Fritz was able to take the initiative on his first set point and forced an error from Hurkacz's backhand into the net.
Hurkacz had opportunities to earn the match's first break at 5-5, 15-40 on Fritz's serve in the second set, but the American saved them with a big serve and forehand volley. Hurkacz once again seemed in position to force a decider with two serves at 5-4 in the tiebreak, but he missed two forehands, which allowed Fritz to close out the match and with it, the tie.
A touch of Polish class 🇵🇱👌#UnitedCup | @MagdaLinette pic.twitter.com/UkYhtPNaWe
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 7, 2023
Keys had split two previous encounters with Linette, both in the last two months. Indeed, Linette's win had also been in team competition -- a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in November.
Both players brought an undefeated United Cup record into the match, and it was Keys who preserved hers with a dominant display of power.
She did not face a break point throughout a tight first set while consistently creating chances on return. Though Linette was able to fend off the first two break points she faced, in the second and sixth games, Keys converted her fourth of the day -- also a set point -- by hammering a backhand return.
A drop shot paved the way to Linette's only break of serve in the first game of the second set, but Keys responded by upping her focus to immediately break back and reel off six of the final seven games of the match.
The final of the United Cup will start Sunday afternoon in Sydney.