Bounce Back: Gauff, Harrison Clinch U.S. United Cup Quarterfinal

By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, January 5, 2026
Photo credit: United Cup Facebook

Taylor Fritz pulled the United States back from the brink.

Coco Gauff and Christian Harrison propelled the Americans over the finish line.

World No. 4 Gauff and Harrison defeated Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers and Inigo Cervantes 7-6(5), 6-0 clinching the United States’ gripping 2-1 victory over Spain and its return to the United Cup quarterfinals at RAC Arena in Perth.

Team USA joined Greece and Switzerland as the third nation to secure a spot in the United Cup final eight.

It was redemption for Gauff, who saw her six-match United Cup singles win streak snapped by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-0 in a stunning upset that staked Spain to a 1-0 lead.

Gauff said she flushed feelings of disappointment in the bathroom then came back to support Fritz before joining forces with Harrison for their second mixed doubles win of the week.

“Yeah, obviously it wasn’t a great match for me. I tried my best to fight back with what I had in that moment, but yeah, once it was over, I kind of just sat in the bathroom for a little bit,” Gauff said. “Then I knew I had a lot of confidence in Taylor, so I was just trying to make sure that I was ready for the mixed. I
think that’s the beauty of this event, that you have other people that can pick you up on your off days.

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to doing better in the next matches.”

Fritz, who fell to Argentina’s Sebastian Baez in his first match of the season, showed tremendous grit saving a match point to out-duel Spain’s Jaume Munar 7-6(4), 3-6, 7-6(6) in a three hours and 14 minute marathon match.

“I say injury-wise today was really positive for me,” Fritz said. “I felt like I started feeling my knee kind of towards the end of the first set, but in the past when I felt it, I start feeling it just get worse and worse
and worse from that point on. I felt like my pain level stayed kind of at that starting point, so I was able to continue playing the whole match, and it never really became too much of an issue.

“Even right now after everything I went through, it doesn’t feel, like, as bad as I’ve gotten used to. It’s a huge positive for me just injury-wise. Just the situation today, I told everyone I was kind of a freeloader on the first day. I lost, and everyone kind of just picked up the slack. Today I needed to earn my keep for the team.”