THE TOP two nations will face off in the 2025 United Cup final today after the United States defeated Czech Republic in the semi-final last night to join Poland in today’s decider. Winning both the singles after Czech Tomas Machac retired injured while up a set, the Americans were able to rest during the doubles tie, which they won as well.

Fortunately for the Americans, they showed form prior to Machac’s retirement, with Taylor Fritz saving match points to get back on top in the second set before the Czech pulled out at 6-5 down. Machac had won the first set in a tiebreaker after Fritz dominated early, and the contest was shaping up to be an factor.

“He said he’d been cramping for a couple games already. I didn’t notice, but yeah,” Fritz said post-match. “He was moving pretty well, but I guess he was playing through it, fighting. It’s really humid in here.

“That’s something I was thinking was a possibility if I could win that set, take it to a third I was thinking maybe someone might start cramping later on. It’s tough conditions, it was a physical match.” 

While the retirement paved the United States’ path into the final and gave both Fritz and Coco Gauff well-earned rest, the latter hardly needs it, having bulldozed through every opponent she has faced. The most recent was Czech Karolina Muchova, who had obliterated Italian and Top 5 player Jasmine Paolini the day before, as well as pushed Gauff’s next opponent in world number two Iga Swiatek in the last match of the group stage.

However Gauff never looked like losing, storming to a 6-1 6-4 victory over the world number 22. Despite the scoreline being comfortably in favour of the young American, Gauff said it was very tough.

“It’s never easy against Karolina,” she said post-match. “The whole match I was intense and focussed and I think that made the difference today. Happy to get my team off to a a good start here in Sydney.”

The 2023 United Cup champions when Fritz partnered Jessica Pegula, the United States are on the verge of a second title in three years. All that stands in their way is Poland, who also boast two top quality singles players.

“It’s great to be back. That was a crazy match, very physical and it’s not the way that I that I guess I want to win,” Fritz said. “But I think we’re all happy that we’re back in the final again.”

UNITED STATES (2) defeated CZECH REPUBLIC (0)

Coco Gauff (USA) defeated Karolina Muchova (CZE) 6-1 6-4
Taylor Fritz (USA) defeated Tomas Machac (CZE) 6-7 6-5 RET