Casper Ruud’s Australian Open tune-up has begun impressively, whereas Petra Kvitova has sealed a primary United Cup victory for the Czech Republic by beating Germany’s Laura Siegemund in Sydney.
Kvitova’s 6-Four 6-2 win on Sunday morning gave her nation an unassailable 3-Zero lead, securing the tie after star German Alexander Zverev was upset by Jiri Lehecka in his comeback from harm a day earlier.
Germany gained the second males’s singles rubber and the blended doubles, however the Czechs nonetheless walked away with the 3-2 victory.
The Czechs’ win strikes them to 1-1 after dropping their opening tie of the brand new blended groups occasion 4-1 to the USA, which may safe its passage to the semi-finals with victory over Germany from Monday.
Kvitova, ranked 16 however a former world No.2, was examined by the world No.177.
However the left-hander swung freely to interrupt at 5-Four within the first set after which rifled one other profitable return previous the German to set-up a 2-Zero benefit within the second set earlier than ultimately prevailing in a single hour, 50 minutes.
In Brisbane, world No.Three Ruud fought to maintain Norway alive, beating Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 6-Three 6-2.
After an ankle harm saved him out of final yr’s Australian Open, Ruud powered to the finals of the French and US Opens to peak at No.2 on the earth.
“It is at all times refreshing waking up on January 1. I at all times really feel very motivated coming down right here to Australia,” he mentioned.
“Final yr was a bit unlucky, so I am very desperate to have a superb begin to the season and that is the right technique to begin.”
Brazil went on to win the tie 4-1, with Laura Pigossi beating Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri 6-Three 6-Four within the girls’s singles rubber, and Brazil additionally gained the blended doubles.
The end result improved Brazil’s general report to 1-1, with Italy (1-0) capable of safe passage if it beats Norway within the closing Brisbane leg.
Bulgaria gained its tie in opposition to Belgium 3-2 after triumphing in a pulsating blended doubles contest.
World No.29 Elise Mertens gave Belgium a 2-1 lead within the tie after producing a surprising third set in her 6-Four 3-6 6-Zero win over Gergana Topalova.
However world No.196 Dimitar Kuzmanov leveled it up at 2-2 with a dominant 6-2 6-Zero win over world No.129 Zizou Bergs.
Belgium was on monitor for victory after Mertens and David Goffin raced by means of the opening set of the blended doubles, however Bulgaria’s pairing of Isabella Shinikova and Alexandar Lazarov fought again to win 1-6 7-6 (7-5) 10-6 (match tiebreak).
Australia is again in motion in opposition to Spain on Monday, with Alex de Minaur scheduled to tackle 22-time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal, and Zoe Hives to face Parrizas Diaz.
