US, Italy advance to United Cup quarters –

World No. 1 Sabalenka clinched her first win of the season, as she aims to become the first woman in 20 years to win three Australian Opens in successio

Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini and Taylor Fritz yesterday all clocked impressive wins as tennis powerhouses Italy and the US surged into the quarter-finals of the mixed-team United Cup.

World No. 3 Gauff swept past Croatia’s Donna Vekic 6-4, 6-2 to avenge a loss at the Paris Olympics, while Fritz took care of Borna Coric 6-3, 6-2 in searing Perth heat.

That was enough to put the Americans — last year’s winners — into a last-eight clash with China today, while Elena Rybakina’s Kazakhstan today are to meet defending champions Germany, led by Alexander Zverev, in the other Perth quarter-final.

Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka returns to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua during their women’s singles match at the Brisbane International in Australia yesterday.
Photo: AFP

In Sydney, the in-form fourth-ranked Paolini demolished France’s Chloe Paquet 6-0, 6-2 to help steer an Italian team missing Jannik Sinner into the knockout round with their opponent yet to be decided.

Iga Swiatek’s Poland play the Czech Republic today in a bid to join them, while Britain take on Australia.

World No. 4 Fritz got the ball rolling for the US, adapting his game to Coric’s approach.

Coco Gauff of the US returns to Croatia’s Donna Vekic during their women’s singles match at the United Cup in Perth, Australia, yesterday.
Photo: AFP

“At the start he was hitting well and staying with me from the baseline. It was tough to hurt him,” he said. “But I tried to make fewer mistakes and let him make a couple — that was the difference. It was just great to get the win, good to get it done.”

Gauff put the tie beyond Croatia’s reach against Vekic, who scored an upset win against her on the way to a silver medal at the Olympics.

“That defeat really hurt, but it was really just motivation to do better,” said Gauff, who won eight of the past 11 games.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, left, of France shakes hands with Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, right, after winning their Brisbane International men’s singles match at Queensland

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