PERTH - Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini and Taylor Fritz all clocked impressive wins Tuesday as tennis powerhouses Italy and the United States surged into the quarter-finals of the mixed-team United Cup.
World number three Gauff swept past Croatia's Donna Vekic 6-4, 6-2 to avenge a loss at the Paris Olympics, while Fritz took care of Borna Coric 6-3, 6-2 in searing Perth heat.
That was enough to put the Americans -- the 2023 winners -- into a last-eight clash with China.
Elena Rybakina's Kazakhstan meet defending champions Germany, led by Alexander Zverev, in the other Perth quarter-final.
In Sydney, the in-form fourth-ranked Paolini demolished France's Chloe Paquet 6-0, 6-2 to help steer an Italian team missing Jannik Sinner into the knockout round with their opponent yet to be decided.
Iga Swiatek's Poland play the Czech Republic on Wednesday in a bid to join them, while Britain take on Australia.
World number four Fritz got the ball rolling for the US, adapting his game to Coric's approach.
"At the start he was hitting well and staying with me from the baseline. It was tough to hurt him," he said. "But I tried to make fewer mistakes and let him make a couple -- that was the difference."
"It was just great to get the win, good to get it done."
Gauff put the tie beyond Croatia's reach against Vekic, who scored an upset win against her on the way to a silver medal at the Olympics.
"That defeat really hurt, but it was really just motivation to do better," said Gauff, who won eight of the last 11 games.
"I'm happy how I served and competed today throughout the entire match.
"We're through to the quarter-finals -- let's go."
Paolini had a memorable 2024, finishing runner-up at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and winning her second career title in Dubai.
She also triumphed with Italy in doubles at the Paris Olympics and helped her country to Billie Jean King Cup glory, bringing that form to Australia.