Nice Britain’s Katie Boulter surprised American world quantity 5 Jessica Pegula for the most important win of her profession on the United Cup in Perth.
Boulter, ranked 51 locations beneath Pegula, got here from a set and double break right down to win 5-7 6-4 6-4 and put GB forward.
It marked the 27-year-old’s first victory over a top-five opponent.
Crew-mate Cameron Norrie then misplaced to Taylor Fritz to ship the best-of-three tie to the deciding doubles, the place Boulter and Pegula will meet once more.
Fritz beat Norrie 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 and can workforce up with Pegula to face Boulter and Neal Skupski. Ought to Nice Britain win, they are going to qualify for the quarter-finals of the match.
In January 2023, the primary version of the mixed-team competitors, Pegula led the US to the United Cup title, however on Sunday she was compelled to save lots of three Boulter set factors at 4-5 within the opening set.
From there, the 29-year-old received six successive video games to take the primary set and construct a double-break benefit within the second.
However Boulter fought again, successful six of the subsequent seven video games to stage the match at a set apiece, earlier than wrapping up victory in two hours and 44 minutes.
Her earlier finest wins by rating had been her two victories over then-world quantity seven Karolina Pliskova in 2022, first at Eastbourne after which Wimbledon.
Within the second singles match, world quantity 18 Norrie obtained off to a sluggish begin as Fritz – ranked eight locations increased – raced right into a 4-1 lead.
Though the Briton levelled at 5-5, it was Fritz who edged a good tie-break to win the primary set, earlier than the American obtained the decisive break of serve within the ninth recreation of the second set to ship the tie to deciding blended doubles.
