Alex de Minaur delivered a commanding performance at the United Cup, sweeping past Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-1, 6-4 in his first match of the season. Despite his efforts, host nation Australia fell to Argentina 2-1 in Group F on Saturday.
The World No. 9 leveled the tie after teammate Olivia Gadecki succumbed to Nadia Podoroska 6-2, 6-4 in the opening women’s singles rubber at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
In the decisive mixed doubles match, Etcheverry returned to the court alongside Maria Carle to face Australia’s Matt Ebden and Ellen Perez. The Argentine duo prevailed 6-2, 6-4, sealing the overall victory for Argentina.
Meanwhile, in Group D, former Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic propelled Switzerland to a 2-1 win over France. The 27-year-old defeated Chloe Paquet 6-3, 6-1, winning 10 of the last 11 games. Although her teammate Dominic Stricker fell 6-3, 7-5 to Ugo Humbert, Bencic teamed up with Stricker in the mixed doubles to clinch the tie with a 6-1, 7-6(4) victory over Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Elixane Lechemia.
In Group A in Perth, Canada overcame a singles loss by Felix Auger-Aliassime to defeat Croatia 2-1. Leylah Fernandez secured a 6-4, 6-3 win over Donna Vekic, but Auger-Aliassime stumbled against Borna Coric, losing 0-6, 6-4, 6-4. The Canadian duo rebounded in the mixed doubles, with Auger-Aliassime and Fernandez defeating Lucija Ciric Bagaric and Ivan Dodig 6-3, 6-4 to secure the victory.
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De Minaur wins but host Australia falls to Argentina at United Cup
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