World quantity three Jessica Pegula toppled Martina Trevisan in a powerhouse efficiency to offer the United States a 1-0 lead over Italy within the ultimate of the inaugural United Cup on Sunday.
The 28-year-old, who burst into the highest 10 in 2022 by successful the WTA 1000 Guadalajara match for the most important title of her profession, stormed house 6-4, 6-2 in Sydney.
“Definitely very relieved, first match of the day, first match of the final,” mentioned Pegula.
“Martina is playing great, she’s a fighter, I feel like she’s thriving on the atmosphere with the fans and her team and really hard to beat someone like that.
“Glad I was able to play well enough to get the win.”
Frances Tiafoe performs Lorenzo Musetti subsequent to attempt to solidify the US benefit within the best-of-five tie ultimate.
Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys then face Matteo Berrettini and Lucia Bronzetti respectively earlier than a deciding blended doubles rubber if wanted.
A dominant United States crushed the Iga Swiatek-led Poland 5-0 to make the decider of the blended groups match — which started with 18 nations — whereas Italy outgunned Stefanos Tsitsipas’s Greece 4-1.
Trevisan shocked world quantity six Maria Sakkari in a gripping three-hour encounter on Friday, and her confidence was excessive.
But Pegula was additionally in red-hot kind, toppling world primary Swiatek for the primary time within the semi-finals.
She got here out firing in opposition to Trevisan, racing to a 3-0 lead after breaking the Italian’s opening serve.
Trevisan confirmed the combating qualities that helped her beat Sakkari to claw again, changing a break level within the fifth recreation and holding serve to get it again on degree phrases.
They exchanged breaks once more on the quick laborious courts earlier than Pegula pounced as soon as extra to clinch the set on the Trevisan serve with a backhand winner.
It was all Pegula within the second as she put her foot to the ground, racing 5-0 clear.
But the Italian refused to surrender and broke again because the American served for the match earlier than her comeback faltered.