The Australian summer of tennis is here and there is a new-look event on the calendar — the United Cup.
Eighteen countries will compete in the United Cup across 11 days from Thursday, with the three cities all hosting group games in a round-robin format before a finals series in Sydney.
Ties comprise two men’s and two women’s singles matches and one mixed doubles.
There is plenty on the line too, with a total of $15 million in prize money on offer at the tournament along with 500 ATP and 500 WTA rankings points.
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Kyrgios pulls out of United Cup | 02:52
DAY ONE RECAP
Alex de Minaur – taking on the No.1 men’s position for Australia after Nick Kyrgios’ late withdrawal – failed to overcome a tough test against Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie in Sydney.
The world No.24 is looking to return to the top 15 and improve at grand slam level, with the 2020 US Open quarterfinals his best result at the majors so far.
While de Minaur generated chances early to break Norrie’s serve, it was the latter who was the more poised of the pair.
The left-hander broke de Minaur to jump out to a 4-1 lead and closed out a service game to love to take the opener 6-3.
Norrie broke again as an aggressive de Minaur continued to make errors early in the second set.
The Aussie threatened to break back at 2-3, but Norrie saved a break point and held strong to get out to a 4-2 lead.
Norrie thwarted any further attempts at a de Minaur comeback, taking out the match 6-3, 6-3.
Zoe Hives followed up for the Aussies, facing Katie Swan.
Hives showed fight, but Swan was a class above, making it 15 wins from her last 17 matches, defeating the world No.772 in straight sets.
Speaking of Kyrgios, he had plenty to say surrounding his last-minute withdrawal from the tournament.
Taking to Twitter, Kyrgios revealed he and fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis would heavily feature in the first episode of Break Point — the sport’s new Netflix series.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Kyrgios made no apologies for prioritising his Australian Open campaign.
“Anyone outside of that wouldn’t have a great understanding (of the planning that goes into preparing for a major tournament),” he said.
“Going deep or not, winning a match at a grand slam level is not an easy task. People underestimate the pressure and the nerves with being a part of one of the biggest tournaments of the year.
“Throw in an injury and knowing you didn’t give yourself the best chance only adds to the mountain of pressure you face. So feeling good physically is important.”
Another highlight of the opening day’s action in Perth sees Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas taking on Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in Group A.
Dimitrov started on song, delivering a dazzling blend of shotmaking in a rare battle of two players with one-handed backhands.
The former world No.3 got to 0-40 on Tsitsipas’ serve at 4-5 in the first set, but Tsitsipas brought the game back to deuce.
Dimitrov pushed ahead once more, however, generating a fourth set point and taking it to go a set ahead after 41 minutes.
Tsitsipas stormed back after that, however, with the world No.4 racing to level the match at a set apiece.
After a tight tussle in the final set, Tsitsipas prevailed 7-6 in the tiebreak, sealing victory for Greece.
Earlier, Tsitsipas said the Greek team was psyched up about trying to lead a minor tennis nation to big achievements in the new tournament.
“We are all doing this together,” he said of the squad’s spirit. “Our team all have their eyes on the prize, but this (winning) can only be achieved by combining forces and committing every day.”
Tsitsipas also had something to add after Australian rival Nick Kyrgios surprised his team with a last-minute withdrawal from the tournament, citing an ankle injury.
“It is not a surprise, I hope he enjoys his holidays,” Tsitsipas said.
Other highlights see France’s Alize Cornet, who enjoyed a successful Australian Open campaign earlier this year, facing Argentina’s Maria Carle at 6pm in Perth.
That match will be followed by a battle between Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) and Francisco Cerundolo (ARG).
In earlier action, Taylor Fritz made history as the tournament’s first-ever winner, defeating Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4 to give the US a 1-0 advantage against the Czech Republic.
American Madison Keys made it two from two not long after, defeating Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-3. to take the tie.
In the opening clash between Greece and Bulgaria, Isabella Shinikova raced out to a one-set lead, but was pegged back by Despina Papamichail to draw level at a set apiece.
From there, Shinikova began to cramp up in her right hand and had injury concerns lingering for much of the third set.
Papamichail eventually took the final set with relative ease and with it a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory for Greece.
FULL SCHEDULE — DAY 1
Sydney, Ken Rosewall Arena
United States vs. Czech Republic (Group C)
Taylor Fritz (USA) def. Jiri Lehecka (CZE) — 6-3, 6-4
Madison Keys (USA) def. Marie Bouzkova (CZE) 6-4, 6-3
Australia vs. Great Britain (Group D)
Cameron Norrie (GB) def. Alex de Minaur (AUS) – 6-3, 6-3
Katie Swan (GB) def. Zoe Hives (AUS) 6-4, 6-3
Perth, RAC Arena
Greece vs. Bulgaria (Group A)
Despina Papamichail (GRE) def. Isabella Shinikova (BUL) – 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) def. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) – 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4)
France vs. Argentina (Group F)
Alizé Cornet (FRA) def. Maria Carle (ARG) – 6-2, 6-1
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) def. Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) – 6-4, 6-2
Brisbane, Pat Rafter Arena
Italy vs. Brazil (Group E)
Martina Trevisan (ITA) vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) – 6-2, 6-0
Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) def. Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA) – 6-3, 6-4
Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan (Group B)
Belinda Bencic (SWI) def. Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) – 7-6(0), 6-3
Marc-Andrea Huesler (SWI) vs. Timofey Skatov (KAZ), to follow
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