USA Survives a Nail-Biter to Lock Fed Cup Quarterfinals in Perth

Overview

The United States secured a quarterfinal berth in the Fed Cup in Perth after a hard-fought group-stage showdown with Spain. Ninth-ranked Taylor Fritz had to rescue a match point against Gom Monar to keep the defending champions atop Group A, following Coco Gauff’s surprising opener loss to 42nd-ranked Jessica Bouzas Manero.

Turning Points

After the setback, Gauff teamed with Christian Harrison to win the mixed doubles 7-6, 6-0 over Inigo Cervantes and Yvonne Cavali, officially sending Spain packing from the event. In a life-or-death singles clash, Fritz erased a match point against Monar in a 3 hour 14 minute marathon, finishing 7-6, 3-6, 7-6.

Fritz later revealed he battled a toe injury from a slip, and he called for a seven-minute medical timeout at 4-4 in the deciding set, while continuing to cope with knee tendinopathy. He still delivered 16 aces and endured long rallies from the back line. Bouzas Manero then handed Gauff what many called a career-defining upset, beating the American 6-1, 6-7, 6-0, the loss marking Gauff’s first Fed Cup singles defeat after 10 consecutive wins in singles and doubles.