Katie Boulter rallies from big deficit to upset Jessica Pegula; United States eventually prevails at United Cup
The Brit won after trailing by a set and a double break, before Taylor Fritz helped turn things around for the defending champion Americans.
No one, not even a top-tier athlete, can be expected to flash his or her best form on the first day of a new season. Even when the end of the previous season practically blends into the fresh one, given their proximity.
Jessica Pegula, the fifth-ranked player on the WTA Tour, can take solace in that—but that will be scant comfort after her 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 loss to Great Britain’s Katie Boulter in the round-robin stage of the United Cup.
The American led by a set and a double-break before the world No. 56 surged back into the contest. While that push seemingly came out of nowhere, Pegula did save three set points to take the opener, so it wasn’t as if Boulter wasn’t already showing some impressive form of her own.
“Just totally impressed by her ability and resilience to hang in there,” said Tennis Channel’s Paul Annacone.
“The first set was really tight, and it could have gone either way,” said the 27-year-old Boulter, who collected her first win over a Top 5 player, and her third over a Top 10 opponent. “She came out heavy in the second and played some really good stuff, and I just tried to fight and stay in the match as much as possible—and somehow found a way.”
Boulter’s momentum carried into the third set, during which Pegula was consisently pressured on serve. Part of that was self-imposed, but it was more due to Boulter’s steadfast aggressiveness. With Pegula serving at 1-2, 15-30, the players had combined for 71 unforced errors—40 of them Boulter's. But with the tide having turned, and Boulter clearly having found a formula that was working, the trade-off was worth it.
Now it was Pegula’s turn to fight, and stay in the match as much as possible. She did that. She also got to 0-30 while returning at 3-3—at this point, each player had won 99 points on the day.
Boulter’s 100th was one to remember, or, in Pegula’s case, to forget. With the Brit merely defending at net, Pegula watched as a quick volley narrowly landed on the baseline. It would, and probably should, have been triple break point to Pegula. Instead, it was the first of four straight points for Boulter.
While Pegula would get the break right back, she was immediately pressured on serve again at 4-5. At 30-all, more Boulter volley wizardry ensued, with a deft cross-court “lob” winner earning her a match point, which she converted.
“The biggest of her career without a shadow of a doubt,” said Tennis Channel’s Jason Goodall. “It’s wins like that that can change a career.”
The singles win is Boulter’s second of the young season, having already defeated Australian Ajla Tomljanovic to clinch a victory for Britain.
“I absolutely love being on a team, I feel like I thrive in these situations. So good to have so many tennis heads giving you information at the side of the court.”
Pegula was happy to be on a team as well. After compatriot Taylor Fritz kept U.S. hopes alive in the overall tie with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Cameron Norrie, the New York and California natives paired for a mixed doubles victory that clinched the day's win for the Americans.
"Taylor took care of business, thank goodness," Pegula said, as reported by the ATP Tour website. "I thought he played great, was serving well. We were able to turn around that mixed match, which was really important. We're still undefeated in mixed."
With the win, the United States—2-0 in ties and the United Cup defending champion—will advance to the quarterfinals with a victory over Australia. Great Britain is 1-1 in ties, and 3-3 in matches.