Kazakhstan reached the quarterfinals of the United Cup blended staff event with a snug win over Greece on Monday as Elena Rybakina defeated Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-3 after Alexander Shevchenko surprised Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina, who’s utilizing the 18-nation event to arrange for subsequent month’s Australian Open, edged a decent opening set in opposition to Sakkari earlier than powering forward 5-0 within the subsequent.
She was damaged late on however stayed composed to shut out the competition on serve, leaving her new coach Goran Ivanisevic beaming within the dugout.
“We’ve simply been working a pair weeks collectively. That is our first official event,” Rybakina stated.
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“We’re nonetheless attending to know one another a bit. He’s a enjoyable man. He provides some expertise from when he performed and in addition as a coach. I’m simply glad to work with him.
“Hopefully we’ll have some good outcomes collectively.”
Shevchenko pulled off a serious upset earlier when he downed an ailing and error-prone world quantity 11 Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6(0) to place Kazakhstan on the right track for victory within the Group C tie in Perth.
“It is going to undoubtedly go in my file as one in all my finest wins,” Shevchenko stated.
“He wasn’t at his finest immediately however nonetheless I performed very well and I discovered the moments to win the match.”
In Sydney, Katie Boulter and Charles Broom guided Britain to a 2-1 win over Argentina in Group F, successful their blended doubles rubber in opposition to Maria Lourdes Carle and Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(4), 7-5.
Boulter put Britain up 1-0 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Nadia Podoroska however Argentina fought again instantly as Etcheverry overcame a abdomen subject to down Billy Harris 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
World quantity two Iga Swiatek will probably be in motion when Poland face Norway in Group B, whereas defending champion Germany meet China in Group E.