Kazakhstan topple Spain at United Cup
Tennis is back! It's time for the United Cup, a team competition in preparation for the Australian Open.
The first group match pits Kazakhstan against Spain.
In the first singles match, Pablo Carreño-Busta produced a match of excellent quality to dominate Alexander Shevchenko (6-2, 6-1 in 1h04).
The win puts the Spaniards one win away from a first victory in this year's competition.
Currently ranked 6th in the world, Elena Rybakina is still raising doubts after a 2024 marked by injuries and illnesses that have prevented her from playing in a succession of tournaments.
In her first match with Goran Ivanisevic, her new coach, the Kazakh player showed no mercy against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (6-2, 6-3) to bring her country level.
It was the mixed doubles that decided the tie between the two nations.
The Elena Rybakina/Alexander Shevchenko pair took on the Yvonne Cavallé-Reimers and Pablo Carreño-Busta pair.
After a tight match that went to a super tie-break, it was the Kazakh duo who came out on top, winning the match (7-6, 6-7, 10-7).
Later today, a second match will take place between Brazil and China, starting at 10 a.m. French time (5 p.m. in Perth).
