By Glenn Cullen
Australia’s tilt at the inaugural United Cup is effectively over after just one tie after Great Britain won through to the Sydney play-off by completing an upset win over Spain.
In the box seat for victory over the Spaniards after establishing a 2-0 lead when Cameron Norrie shocked Rafael Nadal and Katie Swan did a similar job on Nuria Parrizas-Dias, Great Britain went on with the job in Sydney on Sunday night.
A jubilant Dan Evans after securing Britain’s passage in the tournament.Credit:AP
They will now take on the winner of Group C comprising the United States, Czech Republic and Germany in the “city final” at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena on Wednesday.
Dan Evans was the hero for the Brits after sealing an unassailable 3-1 advantage with a grinding win over Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
It came after Great Britain had beaten Australia 3-2 in their opening tie.
With only the top team in each of the six groups progressing to the next round, Spain join Australia on the sidelines after the first phase.
Their players will, however, get some more match practice over the next two days when Australia and Spain meet in a dead tie.
Australia had high hopes coming into the tournament with a squad featuring Nick Kyrgios, Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic.
But Kyrgios’s 11th-hour withdrawal and an injury to two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist Tomljanovic put Australia’s campaign into disarray.
Despite their advantage, the Brits still had some work to do on Sunday when Harriet Dart went down to Paula Badosa 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (7-5), 1-6.
Dart belied her world ranking of No.98 to push Badosa all the way, at one stage only two points from winning the match in a thrilling second set tie-breaker.
But the No.13 steeled herself when it mattered most and ran away with the third set to get Spain back in the tie.
With Nadal waiting in the wings for a potential deciding fifth rubber, much hinged on what Ramos-Vinolas, a replacement for Pablo Carreno Busta, could do against Evans.
After a sluggish first set, the Spaniard roared back to life in the second and Evans, a disappointing first-up loser to Australia’s Jason Kubler, looked on edge entering the decider.
Dan Evans celebrates with his teammates after defeating Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas in their Group D match in Sydney on Sunday night.Credit:AP
However, the world No.27 secured a vital break in the seventh game and ultimately served out the contest for a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 win, rendering the mixed doubles a dead rubber.
“I don’t feel my strongest, but I’ve got a great team behind me,” Evans said.
“It helps that it’s not a regular tournament; it’s tough to throw the towel in when you’ve got all that lot behind you.”
Petra Kvitova earlier beat Laura Siegemund 6-4, 6-2 for her second straight victory in the tournament as the Czechs secured a 3-0 lead in their tie against Germany.
Oscar Otte earned Germany their first win when he defeated Dalibor Svrcina before Siegemund and Alexander Zverev teamed up for a consolation win over Marie Bouzkova and Jiri Lehecka in the doubles.
The Czechs have one win and a defeat from two ties following their opening round-robin loss to the United States, who take on Germany next in Group C.
Bulgaria’s Alexandar Lazarov and Isabella Shinikova won the first-ever United Cup deciding mixed doubles meeting in Perth, saving a match point to beat Belgium’s David Goffin and Elise Mertens for a 3-2 triumph in Group A.
Casper Ruud sealed Norway’s only victory in their 4-1 Group E defeat by Brazil, as he downed Thiago Monteiro 6-3 6-2. Poland went 3-1 up over Kazakhstan in Group B, with Hubert Hurkacz and Magda Linette winning their matches in Brisbane.
Croatia ended Argentina’s chances of advancing from Perth, going up 3-0 to hand them a second straight Group F loss.
The United Cup is being played in three cities with two group winners from each venue meeting to determine who reaches the last-four stage.
The fourth semi-finalist will be the “city final” runner-up with the best record from their three matches. Sydney will host the final on January 8.
AAP, Reuters
The United Cup is being broadcast on the 9Network, with every match available live on 9Now.
