Gauff stunned but US seal last-8 spot, as do Greeks

World No. 4 Coco Gauff suffered her first defeat at tennis’ mixed-team United Cup on Jan 5, when she was stunned by Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-0 in a blow to her Australian Open preparations.

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But after Taylor Fritz won to level the Group A tie for the United States, Gauff made amends with Christian Harrison in the mixed doubles, beating Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers and Inigo Cervantes 7-6 (7-5), 6-0 to seal a quarterfinal spot.

Gauff had won all six of her previous United Cup singles matches for the US and had a 3-0 record in mixed doubles.

It was the first win over a top-five player for Bouzas Maneiro.

"I know Coco and she’s a fighter," the 42nd-ranked Spaniard said in Perth.

"She's there all the time in the match, so I knew that I had to be there. Even if you are 3-0 or 4-0 up, you have to be ready."

World No. 9 Fritz, who is battling a knee problem, needed more than three hours to beat Jaume Munar 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 7-6 (8-6).

"I was getting exhausted late in the second set, I had to unload five or six shots just to win a single point," said Fritz, who saved a match point in the third set tiebreak.