Taylor Fritz was handed an unusual win in the United Cup semi-final when his opponent retired due to cramps.

Fritz was trailing Tomas Machac by a set in Saturday’s semi-final in Sydney, but was about to serve for the second set when Machac approached the umpire. 

The Czech player had been in inspired form, turning around the opening set after being a break down to take it in the tie-break.

He carried that momentum into the second set and served for the match at 7-6(4) 5-3.

Machac even had two match points at 5-2 on Fritz’s serve, but the American refused to let the scoreline get to him – saving both with some clutch play.

Machac then served for the match at 5-3, only for frustrations to start to bubble over as he lost four games on the bounce. 

His racquet went flying at the changeover with Fritz leading 6-5 and serving for the second set, with the Czech’s emotions clear for the crowd to see as he gesticulated wildly with his coach. 

He came back out and played just the one point on Fritz’s serve, sending a backhand long before taking off his hat and walking in to announce his decision to the umpire. 

“He said he’d been cramping for a couple games already. I didn’t notice, but yeah. He was moving pretty well, but I guess he was playing through it, fighting. It’s really humid in here,” a bemused Fritz said in his on-court interview. 

“That’s something I was thinking was a possibility if I could win that set, take it to a third, I was thinking maybe someone might start cramping later on. It’s tough conditions, it was a physical match.”

Machac shook hands with Fritz, the two exchanging some very brief words before the Czech player walked back to his team zone.

He initially looked to grab his racquet bag, before opting to walk off court without it and without a word to the rest of the Czech team. 

“It’s great to be back. That was a crazy match, very physical, and it’s not the way that I guess I want to win. But I think we’re all happy that we’re back in the final again,” Fritz concluded.

Earlier, Gauff had beaten Muchova 6-1 6-4 to put the US 1-0 up in the tie, the American having far too much power for her opponent.

Gauff has looked back to her best in the United Cup so far after an up and down 2024 season, and looks in good shape heading into the opening Grand Slam of the year.

“It’s never easy against Karolina,” Gauff said after her victory. “The whole match I was intense and focussed and I think that made the difference today.”