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The inaugural United Cup kicked off in Sydney, with 18 countries fighting for the trophy. The United States and the Czech Republic opened the competition at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, and the USA gained an early advantage.
World no. 9 Taylor Fritz defeated the young Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 15 minutes. Thus, the American became the first winner of an ATP match for the 2023 season! Taylor served at 60% and landed five aces. He defended both break points and kept the pressure on the other side.
Lehecka fought well after following the rival's first serve pace. However, he got broken twice from three chances offered to Fritz and ended on the losing side. Taylor fired an ace down the T line for a hold at love in the season's first game.
He broke the rival at love in game two following Lehecka's loose backhand to take the opening eight points and build an early advantage. The American grabbed the third game at 30 with a forehand winner to confirm the lead and settle into a fine rhythm.
Taylor Fritz defeated Jiri Lehecka in Sydney.
The young Czech caught his first game with a service winner to reduce the deficit to 3-1 and gain some confidence. Serving well so far, Taylor clinched the fifth game with a forehand winner that sent him 4-1 in front.
Jiri found the rhythm behind the initial shot and held at love after a booming serve in game six to remain within one break deficit. Fritz played a wayward forehand in the next one before holding after forcing the rival's error for a 5-2 lead.
Jiri landed another powerful serve in game eight for a hold at love and another chance to extend the set on the return. Taylor earned two set points in game nine with a forehand down the line winner and seized the first following Jiri's backhand error for 6-3 in 29 minutes.
Lehecka painted a forehand winner at the start of the second set and landed another from his backhand in game two for a break chance. Fritz denied it with a service winner and held after a couple of deuces for 1-1. Lehecka produced his fifth comfortable service game in a row with an unreturned serve that sent him 2-1 in front.
Taylor followed that pace with a hold at 15 in game four before Jiri landed a volley winner at the net for 3-2. Lehecka stepped in on the second serve return and created a break chance in the sixth game. Fritz denied it with a fine attack and a smash winner at the net.
The American picked a beautiful volley winner at the net to bring the game home and lock the result at 3-3. The Czech delivered his seventh straight fine hold for 4-3 before the American landed a service winner to level the score at 4-4 and increase the drama.
Jiri missed a routine backhand in the ninth game and faced a break point. He saved it with a service winner and missed a game point that would cost him dearly. The Czech netted a forehand to face the second break point, and the American converted it after a beautiful rally that pushed him 5-4 in front. Fritz served for the victory in game ten and sealed the deal with an ace to earn the first victory of the new season.