Italy into United Cup final against USA despite Tsitsipas outgunning Berrettini

Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti celebrates victory against Greece’s Valentini Grammatikopoulou with teammates after the women’s singles in the semi-final of the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney on January 7, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Stefanos Tsitsipas battled from a set down to topple Matteo Berrettini Saturday but it was in vain as an unstoppable Lucia Bronzetti powered Italy into the final of the inaugural United Cup against a dominant United States.

World number four Tsitsipas came through a do-or-die clash in Sydney 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 to earn a crucial point for his country and boost his confidence ahead of the Australian Open.

But it wasn’t enough with Bronzetti pummelling Greece’s Valentini Grammatikopoulou 6-2, 6-3 in the following match to give Italy an unassailable 3-1 lead.

They meet the United States in Sunday’s final after the red-hot Americans swept past Poland 5-0.

Italy went into day two of the semi-finals with a 2-0 advantage after a gutsy Martina Trevisan upset world number six Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-5 in a gripping encounter on Friday.

Trevisan’s teammate Lorenzo Musetti then crushed Greek teenager Stefanos Sakellaridis 6-1, 6-1.

With Tsitsipas winning, the pressure was on Grammatikopoulou, a late replacement for Despina Papamichail.

But she was outgunned by Bronzetti and reduced to tears in the first set.

“It’s a special moment to bring such an important point to Italy. We are a great team, great friends and I’m so excited and so happy right now,” said Bronzetti.

Berrettini, ranked 16, took a grip on his high-quality match with an unanswered break in game seven of the first set.

They went toe-to-toe in set two before the pumped-up Tsitsipas prevailed in a tiebreaker to take it to a third set where he ground down his tiring opponent.

“I hung in there and was just waiting for my chances, he’s a big server,” said Tsitsipas. “I was able to play with a lot of intensity.”

Served well

Earlier, a composed Taylor Fritz beat Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in a battle of top 10 players to power the United States into the final.

The world number nine was too good for his big-serving opponent, ranked one place behind him, winning 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5).

Fritz came into the match with the United States already 2-0 up after Jessica Pegula stunned world number one Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-2 on Friday and Frances Tiafoe swept past Kacper Zuk 6-3, 6-3.

His victory gave them an insurmountable lead before Madison Keys made it 4-0 by…