Stefanos Tsitsipas inspired Greece to a comeback win at the United Cup, winning his singles and doubles matches to earn a 2-1 win over Spain on Saturday. (More Tennis News)
Tsitsipas🧔, along with partner Maria Sakkari, came from a set down to beat Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers and Sergio Martos Gornes 4-6 6-3 8-6 in the Group C clash.
༺Sakkari made amends for her shock singles loss earlier in the day, when she was beaten 6-2 6-1 by Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to hand Spain the advantage.
♛Tsitsipas had levelled up the contest by overcoming Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 3-6 6-3, recovering from a break down in the deciding set to keep the tie alive.
𓆏In a nervy winner-takes-all mixed doubles rubber, Tsitsipas and Sakkari held their nerve to boost their hopes of finishing top of the group.
🌞Sakkari stood firm, holding two serves at 7-6 against the oncoming Martos Gornes, then striking a winner past the Spaniard to bring up three match points, which they converted.
ℱ"We came clutch when we had to; that tie-break was good from our side," Sakkari said. "It's always amazing to play alongside Stefanos and create good moments on the court."
❀"There isn’t a single Greek night without some drama," said Tsitsipas. "I’m grateful that I have a fighter like Maria beside me. She never disappoints, she delivered until the end."
𓄧Greece will look to finish at the summit of Group C when they face Kazakhstan on Monday, after Elena Rybakina inspired a first United Cup victory for her country over Spain.
🧸In Group F, Australia were stunned on home soil as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Argentina at the Ken Rosewall Arena, denting their chances of a maiden United Cup victory.
ꦑNadia Podoroska, the 2020 Roland Garros semi-finalist, fought through her season opener in the first match of the tie to give Argentina a 1-0 lead, beating Olivia Gadecki 6-2 6-4.
ಌBut Australia drew level when Alex de Minaur produced a nearly flawless display to force a deciding mixed doubles clash, beating Tomas Etcheverry 6-1 6-4 in just over an hour.
𝓰He is now 5-2 in singles at the United Cup. In 2023, he defeated Rafael Nadal before earning three wins against top-10 opponents the following year, including Novak Djokovic.
🌃"I think just being back here in Sydney [helped]. I love it here," De Minaur said. "I love playing here.
🎃"I get to play in front of friends, family and in front of my home crowd, so what better way to start the new season?"
🃏But De Minaur's efforts mattered for little after he watched Ellen Perez and Matthew Ebden be beaten by Maria Lourdes Carle and Etcheverry 6-2 6-4 in the decider.
