After being dragged along to an escape-room adventure on their day off on Thursday, an experience which saw the women dust up the men, Frances Tiafoe put his disappointment aside to send his team captain a text message before bed.
After bragging about the “inspirational” message in the post-match press conference, Jessica Pegula then pulled out her phone to read out what Tiafoe had sent.
“He said, ‘Hey, Jess, go believe it tomorrow. I’d back you against anyone in the world. Let’s do the damn thing. All love’,” Pegula said while reading out Tiafoe’s message. Tiafoe responded: “When she says it like that, it sounds terrible. My text language is terrible.”
The close-knit American team have been a breath of fresh air at the United Cup, combining their quality performances with plenty of laughs off the court.
Pegula hopeful for ‘incredible’ Hamlin recovery
A few days ago Pegula, the daughter of billionaire Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula, revealed how she was watching on her phone when the NFL team’s safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field.
Jessica Pegula in action for Team USA against Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the United Cup.Credit:Getty
After her win on Friday she spoke about the eerie nature of how her family is connected to the number three, which Hamlin wears.
“It’s also very weird, I didn’t realise I’m ranked No. 3 and he’s also No. 3,” she said.
“It’s weird. Yeah, crazy. I don’t know if you guys saw the day it happened, the Sabres [National Hockey League team also owned by the Pegula family and based in Buffalo] had a game that night, and someone scored a hat-trick, third hat-trick of the season. It was like all these crazy stats. Sometimes the world is just weird that way.”
On Hamlin, Pegula said: “It’s amazing [that he’s responsive]. Obviously, the medical staff and everyone on field did an amazing job. They are expecting almost, what’s looking hopeful for neurological recovery, which is incredible considering what we were all thinking of before. So definitely good news when I woke up this morning. It was nice to see that. He’s doing better. He’s still got a little ways to go, obviously, but to hear that was just incredible.”
‘Perfect practice’ shapes as a hit
The Australian Open will let fans watch organised practice sessions between star players – dubbed “perfect practice” – during next week’s qualifying tournament as part of a new revenue stream for the cash-strapped event, which was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are talking with the Australian Open about doing something in a week prior to the start of the tournament,” Novak Djokovic said.
“Yes, I chatted with Nick [Kyrgios], and I would like to play with him, and he accepted, but he wants shorter sets.
Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic are keen to play an organised practice session before the Australian Open.Credit:Getty
“Let’s see if that works out. I feel like most of us need matches and practice matches, and as many points that we can play prior to the Australian Open.”
Kyrgios is weighing up the possibility of joining a stellar Kooyong Classic field, including world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Andy Murray.
Jabeur joins Osaka and Kyrgios
The breakaway talent agency formed by Naomi Osaka and Kyrgios’ American agent Stuart Duguid has signed its latest tennis star.
Kyrgios and Osaka are the two stars of the agency, but now world No. 2 Ons Jabeur has signed with the Los Angeles-based Evolve, which only formed last year.
Duguid is part owner of the Miami Pickleball Club, which Kyrgios and Osaka invested in a few weeks ago.
Hunter doubles up
Australia’s Storm Hunter gatecrashed the doubles top-10 last year.Credit:Getty
Storm Hunter (nee Sanders) will forever be the last player to win a doubles title with Ash Barty but can now also boast a new claim to fame.
The 28-year-old left-hander gatecrashed the doubles top-10 last year before playing a starring role in Australia, making the Billie Jean King Cup final.
Hunter, who married her long-time partner Loughlin in November, is playing with world No.1 doubles star Katerina Siniakova in Adelaide this week.
Siniakova and fellow Czech Barbora Krejcikova are the world’s best doubles pairing and have won every grand slam title, Olympic gold and the Billie Jean King Cup.
But Hunter noticed Krejcikova wasn’t playing in Adelaide until next week and was pleasantly surprised when Siniakova agreed to play.
The story gets even better because Siniakova isn’t playing next week but Krejcikova is – and this time it was the Czech who approached Hunter to play.
Hunter was available because she received an Australian Open singles wildcard, so she won’t have to play qualifying.
Wildcards in the Open
John Millman and Jaimee Fourlis have been handed the final two Australian wildcards of this month’s opening grand slam of the season.
The duo were awarded main draw wildcards, taking Australia’s representation in the Australian Open main draw to 14 competitors across the men’s and women’s singles events.
Millman, a tour veteran and fan favourite at age 33, will compete in his sixth consecutive Australian Open despite slipping to 147 in the world rankings.
He was given the wildcard over 26-year-old Aleksandar Vukic, with Tennis Australia officials opting to reward Millman for years of impeccable service.
The other Australian main draw wildcards have gone to Alexei Popyrin, Jason Kubler, Rinky Hijikata, Storm Hunter, Talia Gibson and Olivia Gadecki.
Watch the United Cup live and free on the 9Network – Channel 9 and 9Gem. Every match will be available live on 9Now.
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