Baez Overcomes Fritz for United Cup Breakthrough
Under the lights of Perth, Sebastian Baez erased five straight losses to Taylor Fritz with a gritty comeback, handing Argentina a crucial 1-0 edge in their Group A clash at the United Cup.
Perth’s Pat Rafter Arena pulsed with tension on Saturday as Sebastian Baez stepped up against Taylor Fritz, the World No. 6 whose serve had haunted him in five prior meetings. The 25-year-old Argentine, riding momentum from a straight-sets win over Jaume Munar the day before, turned the fast indoor hard courts into his ally during a two-hour, 35-minute battle. What emerged was a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 upset, Baez’s second Top 10 victory, tilting Group A toward Argentina with a 1-0 lead over the defending champion United States at the United Cup.
Fritz seized the first set with booming serves and flat groundstrokes that pinned Baez deep, converting two of three break points to edge ahead 6-4. The American’s heavy topspin forced baseline errors, but Baez steadied his footwork, absorbing the pressure amid the Australian crowd’s growing murmurs. As rallies lengthened, Fritz’s precision wavered, unforced errors creeping in while Baez probed with deeper returns.
“I am so happy right now,” Baez said. “We have been searching for this feeling for many years and I am happy to give this point to Argentina. Thank you to the crowd. I felt very comfortable today.”
Erasing head-to-head shadows
Baez entered carrying the weight of a 2025 season dotted with inconsistencies, yet his adaptation to the surface’s moderate speed proved pivotal. He varied his returns wider and deeper, disrupting Fritz‘s rhythm and drawing him into extended exchanges that favored the Argentine’s endurance. By the second set, Baez’s one–two pattern—forehand inside-out opening the court, followed by a crosscourt backhand—broke through at 5-4 after Fritz double-faulted under mounting baseline fire.
The crowd’s energy swelled with each point, transforming Baez’s personal doubts into shared resolve. His slice backhand dipped low, forcing Fritz into awkward stretches on the indoor hard, where the bounce rewarded topspin’s kick. This tactical shift not only leveled the match but injected psychological momentum, Baez’s restrained fist pumps signaling a mindset honed through quiet off-season work.
Clutch moments seal the decider
Fritz struck back early in the third, breaking at 2-1 with a down-the-line forehand that showcased his power on the quicker surface. But Baez regrouped, his underspin serves to the body keeping the American off-balance and extending points into grueling affairs. Serving for the match at 5-4, Baez faced a break point on an inside-in winner from Fritz, only to save it with a deep second serve that skidded high.
He closed with a simple volley into the open court, exhaustion yielding to elation as the arena erupted. Ranked No. 45 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Baez flipped his head-to-head ledger to 1-5 against Fritz, a win that builds on Argentina’s 3-0 opening sweep over Spain. For the United States, who claimed the title last year with Fritz winning four of five singles, the pressure now falls to Coco Gauff against Solana Sierra to even the tie.
Boosting Argentina’s quarterfinal bid
This victory positions Argentina strongly for quarterfinal qualification, easing the load ahead of mixed doubles and Sunday’s reverse singles. Baez’s blend of mental fortitude and surface-specific adjustments—leveraging the court’s pace for inside-in forehands—highlights how early-season events like this expose top players’ edges. As Group A heats up in Perth, the upset underscores the United Cup‘s blend of national stakes and individual grit, setting the stage for Gauff’s response and Argentina’s potential run to Sydney.
