Katie Boulter had plenty to smile about despite her team losing their latest tie at the United Cup on Sunday.
The Brit pulled off a huge upset in her match by beating world No.3 Jessica Pegula 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. A player who is currently ranked 53 places higher than her in the rankings. Boulter was at one stage trailing the match 5-7, 0-3, before clawing her way back to record the biggest win of her career to date. Overall she hit 20 winners and won 23 out of 30 points at the net.
“The first set was really tight, and it could have gone either way,” said Boulter, who claimed her first win over a Top 5 player.
“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, who won her first WTA title at the Nottingham Open in June, has been ranked as high as 50th in the world. It is only the third time she has beaten a top 10 player on the Tour and the first time she has done so on a hardcourt.
However, British celebrations were halted in the second match of their tie when Tylor Fritz edged out Cameron Norrie 7-6(5), 6-4. The American fired 10 aces past his rival and was broken just once in the match.
“It was a really tough match. Cam (Norrie) and I have played each other so many times and it’s always a battle, it’s always close,” Fritz said.
“I got pretty lucky at the end of the first set tie-breaker , hit some shots (that) I probably miss more than I make.
“In the second set, just hung in there with my serve. My serve definitely kept me in it, and then I was able to steal a break.”
Fritz returned to the court for the mixed doubles where he partnered up with Pegula. Taking on Boulter and doubles specialist Neil Skupski, they recovered from a first set hammering to prevail 1-6, 7-6(4), 10-6. In doing so they clinched the tie 2-1.
Britain is currently sitting second in their group after beating Australia 2-1 in their opening tie. They still have a shot of qualifying for the knockout stages depending on how America fairs against Australia later in the week.
