Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys send ominous warning as United States starts 2023 United Cup on high

USA took a 2-0 lead over Czech Republic on day one of the United Cup thanks to wins by Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys.

World No. 9 Fritz had an impressive 6-3 6-4 win over Jiri Lehecka to get the mixed teams competition underway in Sydney.

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Keys then provided Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-3 to give the United States a perfect start.

Keys demonstrated her status as world No. 11 by winning the big points. The 2017 US Open finalist broke Bouzkova in the 10th game of the first set and eighth game of the second set, holding her next service games on both occasions.

The win continued the 27-year-old’s love affair with Australia; Keys’ semi-final at the last Australian Open was her best result at a Grand Slam since 2018 and followed her triumph at the 2022 Adelaide International.

“I love playing here,” Keys said.

“Whether it’s the people or that I like playing in the heat earlier in the year, it’s fast and bouncy, it really suits my game.”

Fritz also emerged under pressure.

Lehecka had break points in Fritz’s first two service games in the second set, but the American nailed his first ball each time to keep the Czech at bay.

The set held serve until the ninth game, when Fritz took his opportunity and served it up in style with an ace at match point.

“Hopefully there will be a lot more wins this week,” he said.

“It’s also good for the team to start the day 2-0. We’re all here to try and win it, so it’s a good start.”

Fritz made it into the top 10 in October for the first time in his career in a year in which he put on his best performances in Grand Slams. He reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.

The 25-year-old celebrated a superb 6-3, 7-6 win over Rafael Nadal at this year’s Indian Wells Masters to confirm his upward trend.