Key posts
Order of play in Sydney
As the second match gets underway in Sydney, let’s look at the order of United Cup action on Ken Rosewall Arena today.
From 10:30am: Great Britain v Argentina
Katie Boulter (GBR) v Nadia Podoroska (ARG) (Boulter def. Podoroska 6-3 6-2)
Billy Harris (GBR) v Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG)
Katie Boulter/Charles Broom (GBR) v Nadia Podoroska/Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG)
From 5:30pm: Poland v Norway
Iga Swiatek (POL) v Malene Helgo (NOR)
Hubert Hurkacz (POL) v Casper Ruud (NOR)
Iga Swiatek/Hubert Hurkacz (POL) v Malene Helgo/Casper Ruud (NOR)
How the Argentina-Great Britain tie will affect Australia’s fate
While the Aussies aren’t back in action until Wednesday, the result of today’s group F tie between Great Britain and Argentina will impact their chances of progressing past the group stage of the United Cup.
Australia lost to Argentina 2-1 on Saturday, so basically, they need Argentina to lose today to be in with a chance. If Argentina beat Great Britain today, they will be the winners of the group regardless of the tie score.
Team Australia must beat Great Britain in their tie on Wednesday to stay in the United Cup.Credit: Edwina Pickles
If Great Britain beats Argentina 3-0, that means Argentina cannot win the group, and the winner will be decided by the tie between Australia and Great Britain.
But if Great Britain wins 2-1, all three teams in the group will still be able to win.
Katie Boulter has just won the first match of the tie, giving Great Britain the early edge, but all three of those scenarios are still in play.
There is also the lifeline for the strongest group runner-up from each city to be given a place in the finals, so even if Australia doesn’t win the group, there is still a chance they could progress.
Katie Boulter secures the win for team GB
Great Britain’s Katie Boulter has just secured the win, beating Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska in the first singles match of the day in Sydney.
In a comfortable win for the rising British star, Boulter made light work of the Argentine 6-2 6-3 in just under 90 minutes. Her win gives Team GB a 1-0 lead.
Katie Boulter beats Nadia Podoroska for a 1-0 lead for Great Britain over Argentina.Credit: Edwina Pickles
But the next singles match will be a taller order for the Brits. British No. 1 Jack Draper withdrew from the United Cup due to a hip injury, and he’s replaced by world no. 125 Billy Harris.
Harris will be the underdog against Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who is no. 36 in the world.
The United Cup action you might have missed
Now to cover off a few United Cup updates we didn’t get to yesterday because of the Perth time difference.
The top-seeded US team scraped by to beat Canada. World no. 3 Coco Gauff comfortably beat Leylah Fernandez 6-3 6-2, but the men’s singles was a much tighter contest.
2024 US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz clinched the first set, but a resurgent world no. 29 Felix Auger-Aliassime fought back to win 4-6 7-5 6-3.
Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz of the United States talk between points in their doubles decider win over Canada.Credit: AP
That sent the tie to a mixed doubles decider, with all four singles players returning to the court. The Americans were victorious in a tight 7-6 7-5 result.
The earlier Perth tie saw Germany smash Brazil 3-0, with wins from Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund making quick work of the South Americans.
Meanwhile, as we covered in Sydney, Czechia beat Norway 2-1, while Italy smashed Switzerland 3-0.
Now we’re all caught up, let’s head to the live action, where Katie Boulter has secured the first set for Great Britain and leads Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska 5-2 in the second set.
What happened yesterday in Brisbane?
The doubles, women’s singles, and one men’s singles match kicked off on Sunday in Brisbane, and we already saw some notable results from the Australians.
Last night, Aussie Aleksandar Vukic got the win over Belgium’s David Goffin in the first men’s singles match of the tournament.
Earlier in the day, exciting up-and-comer Maya Joint beat countrywoman Madison Inglis.
Jordan Thompson and Chris O’Connell crashed out in their first-round doubles match. The loss comes two days after Thompson said it was “a joke” that his usual doubles partner Max Purcell, who he partnered with to win the 2024 US Open men’s doubles, has copped a provisional suspension for unwittingly breaching the sport’s anti-doping rules.
“I was shattered for him. We wanted to win the Australian Open,” Thompson said.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to another day of Australia’s summer of tennis. There’s plenty to look forward to today, and will have all the key updates from around the country in our live blog.
My name is Josefine Ganko, and I’m here at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney covering all the United Cup action. Billie Eder will join us a little later.
Meanwhile in Brisbane, it’s a day full of Aussies in action. Marc McGowan and Nick Wright are on the ground in Brisbane to keep you updated, and yes, that will include the debut of the Novak Djokovic – Nick Kyrgios doubles pairing tonight.
Play began about an hour ago in Sydney, so let’s get cracking.
