SYDNEY:  Jessica Pegula defeated current World No. 1 Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-2 in the opening match of the United Cup semifinal on Friday, giving the United States a 1-0 lead over Poland.

Pegula stormed to her first victory against the three-time grand slam champion since 2019 by breaking Swiatek five times and dropping her serve just once.

Swiatek dropped the first seven points of the game, five of which came from forehand mistakes. She was able to overtake Pegula from 40/0 thanks to a string of outstanding victories, but the American managed to keep up the pace.
Swiatek's serves were frequently teed off by Pegula, who then hit crisp return winners to break the tie for 4-1. In the fiercest baseline battles, the 28-year-old outplayed Swiatek, ultimately scoring 21 victories to the Pole's 18.

Swiatek displayed some fantastic overheads and volleying, but none generated any persistent momentum. Pegula claimed 15 of her first 18 return points in the opening set while she dropped just five games behind her serve and didn't encounter a break point in the second.

It will be up to Swiatek's countryman Kacper Zuk to draw the match for Poland in the best-of-five match tie after he lost the first match. The US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe will face the world No. 245 in this match.

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