'Like the Brady Bunch': Chemistry powers U.S. to United Cup triumph

WATCH: Taylor Fritz's win against Matteo Berrettini in the third rubber clinched the Americans' victory in the United Cup.

As the only team of 18 in the field that had four Top 20 players on its roster, the U.S. had every reason to consider itself favorites for the inaugural United Cup. But they still had to rise to the occasion on the court, and by the end of 10 days, they did that and more.

In all, the Americans went 22-2 across five ties to take the trophy, and swept Italy 4-0 in Sydney on Sunday to finish the competition in style. Top-ranked Americans Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula went 6-1 and 8-1, respectively, while No. 2s Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe went undefeated at 11-0 combined.

But equally as impressive as their play on the court were the camaraderie and vibes they cultivated off the court. (And the effectiveness of escape rooms as a team bonding activity.)

"I had a blast these two weeks. It was a lot of fun," U.S. captain David Witt, Pegula's personal coach, said afterwards. "A lot of tennis watching, but I had a blast.

"I feel like I'm at home with my eight kids. This is like the Brady Bunch on something. It's crazy. It was fun. What a family. That's all I've got to say."

After sweeping Poland 5-0 in the semifinals, which saw Pegula thump world No. 1 Iga Swiatek with the loss of just four games, the U.S. saved some of its best tennis for last against Italy. Pegula, Tiafoe and Keys lost just 13 games in five sets (Lorenzo Musetti retired from the second singles match after losing the first set, 6-2), and Fritz improved his record in tiebreaks this year to 4-0 with a pair won against Matteo Berrettini.

"We've had a really great like eternity in Sydney. It's been really fun though. We have been bonding a lot, I feel like getting to know each other a lot," Pegula said. "This was just a good team. It was a good team from the start. I did not think I'd be doing escape rooms with these people.

"That was not my first thought coming into this. I was like I didn't know what to do, and then like next thing I know we're doing escape rooms like three in like one week. Literally everyone last night was, 'We need to do an escape room again to keep the team chemistry going.' I did not think that was going to happen coming into this. Hey, here we are. It was fun."

But the biggest takeaway from Americans' effort over the last week-plus might've been the brilliance of the United Cup format, men and women playing together to achieve a common goal, in action.

"From the guys' side, I said this last year, before we even came into this, I said, having the women playing with us just makes the team a lot stronger from the guys' side," Fritz said. "We've struggled a bit, I'd say... Having the women with us makes the team a lot stronger. I think what I said back when they asked us a couple months ago was I'm excited to get carried in this event.

"From our side it's been great to get the extra help. And like Jess said, like this team, we did a lot of stuff off the court, bonded. It was great."

"Seeing these guys do their thing, it's special," Tiafoe added. "Like seeing Fritz the last couple days play -- can't lose a tiebreaker, is insane. Seeing Jessica give an absolute lesson to the World No. 1 is crazy. Madison winning a huge match to get us over the line the other day against Great Britain, it's just crazy.

"I'm just happy to get through it and to be a champ. It always feels good to drink Champagne on Sunday."