United Cup: Spain, Great Britain score wins on opening day

Spain and Great Britain won the first ties on the opening day of the 2024 United Cup as the new tennis season got underway in Australia.

In the first match of the tie, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-4, 6-0 to give Spain a 1-0 lead before Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-6(1), 6-2 to level the tie.

In the deciding mixed doubles rubber, Davidovich Fokina and Sorribes Tormo scored a 6-4, 7-5 win over Haddad Maia and Marcelo Melo 6-4, 7-5 to give Spain a 2-1 victory.

“There were going to be a lot of doubts in the beginning, but when I won the first set it was easier for me to play,” Davidovich Fokina said after his win. “And to come back and play with Sara, I think we had a very great time on court, and I think we enjoyed it a lot.”

Each tie in the mixed competition consists of three rubbers: a men’s singles, a women’s singles and a mixed doubles with three teams competing in one of six groups.

“I really had to dig deep and play very brave in that third set” – Norrie

In the second tie of the day, Great Britain defeated Australia 2-0 after Cameron Norrie and Katie Boulter scored wins in the singles rubbers.

Norrie defeated Local favourite Alex de Minaur 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(2) in front of a packed Australian crowd before de Minaur’s girlfriend, Britain’s Boulter, defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-4 to complete the 2-0 victory.

“I really had to dig deep and play very brave in that third set,” Norrie, who had lost his last nine matches against top 20 players, said after his win. “He came out at the end of the second set he was firing. I had to dig deep and play to win and in that tie-break, I found good depth on my forehand. The balls got a little bit older and I really had to hit the ball. It is always tough playing Alex. He is a good friend of mine and we always have battles. I knew I would have to run a lot today and I did. It was a great atmosphere.”

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