The United States reclaimed their United Cup title with a 2-0 victory over Poland in Sunday's final in Sydney.
Team USA - who took home the inaugural United Cup honour in 2023 before Germany's triumph last year - commenced their bid for glory in perfect fashion as Coco Gauff triumphed 6-4 6-4 over Iga Swiatek.
Gauff's two-set victory opened the door for Taylor Fritz to finish the job against Hubert Hurkacz, and despite being pushed all the way by the towering Pole, he came through 6-4 5-7 7-6[4] to seal USA's second United Cup honour in three years.
Had Hurkacz turned the tide and levelled the scores, the 27-year-old would have teamed up with Swiatek for a blockbuster doubles decider against Gauff and Fritz, but the world number 16 fell agonisingly short despite a gargantuan effort.
As the USA revelled in regaining their team crown, Poland were left to rue what could have been again, having also been subjected to a 2-1 defeat against 2024 champions Germany in last year's final.
How Gauff, Fritz clinched United Cup glory for USA
© Imago
Ripping up the head-to-head history books, Gauff had only triumphed in two of her previous 13 matches with Swiatek at the top level, but she made an immediate statement with a break in the Pole's first service game.
However, the American was far from flawless on her own serve, as the first match of Sunday's final saw four breaks in the opening six games - two for each player - and both Swiatek and Gauff converted their first break points in each game.
The pair managed to settle as the first set wore on, but Gauff's ruthlessness came to the fore in the 10th game, where she only needed one opening on the Swiatek serve to take the opening set.
The American had to find an extra gear in the second set after Swiatek took a 4-2 lead to threaten a turnaround, but Gauff broke back for 4-4 in an epic eighth game and subsequently took her second match point against Swiatek, who double-faulted five times without registering a single ace.
The following two-hour and 17-minute marathon between Fritz and Hurkacz saw the former need just one break in the fifth game to put the USA on the brink of glory, but Hurkacz refused to wave the white flag in an incredibly tight contest and levelled the tie with a timely break to love in the 12th game of the second set.
Neither man managed to fashion a single break opportunity in the deciding set, where Fritz ceded the first mini-break of the tie-breaker but produced an exceptional fightback, converting his first championship point with a clinical forehand before his compatriots stormed the court in celebration.
Both camps now turn their focus to the upcoming Australian Open, which takes place from January 12 to 26.
Ben Knapton
