United Cup: Elena Rybakina helps Kazakhstan beat Spain at season-opening tennis tournament
Elena Rybakina made her Manchester United Cup debut as Kazakhstan beat Spain 2-1 in the season opener in Perth, Australia.
The 25-year-old 2022 Wimbledon champion beat Jesse 6-2 6-3 after Pablo Carreno Busta put Spain ahead with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Alexander Shevchenko Kabouzas Manero equalized the score.
Rybakina, ranked sixth in the world, then partnered with Shevchenko in the mixed doubles match and defeated Carreno Booth 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (2-7) 10-7 Tower and Yvonne Cavale-Remers.
Great Britain will face Argentina on Monday and then Australia on Wednesday.
Kazakhstan will qualify for the quarter-finals of the 18-nation mixed team event if they beat Greece in Monday’s second game of Group C.
Rybakina competes for the first time since starting partnership with former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic as her new coach, Said: “The first game is always difficult.
“It’s not easy to adapt to it so quickly, but I’m very happy with the way I played today.”
The third edition of the Federation Cup will run until January 5, 2025, with competitions taking place in Perth and Sydney.
GB women’s number one Katie Boult will face fiancé Alex de Minaur in the group stage match against Australia. couple announce engagement earlier this week.
The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, kicks off on Sunday, January 12.
