Katie Boulter received her 2025 season off to a profitable begin as she led Nice Britain to a gap victory over Argentina within the United Cup on Monday.
Boulter beat Nadia Podoroska in straight units in Sydney, then paired up with Charles Broom within the combined doubles to safe the tie after Billy Harris had misplaced his singles rubber to Tomas Etcheverry.
The British No 1, who this week might face her fiance Alex De Minaur when Britain tackle Australia – wrapped up a 6-2 6-3 win over world No 100 Podoroska of their first assembly.
Harris, stepping up on the lads’s aspect within the absence of the injured Jack Draper, appeared set to proceed the profitable theme as he took the primary set in opposition to Etcheverry 6-3.
However a rankings distinction of 66 kicked in and Etcheverry received the subsequent two units 6-3 6-2 to stage the tie, leaving Boulter and Broom to safe victory with a 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 win over Etcheverry and Maria Lourdes Carle.
“Very, very pleased with today. Last year I played so well in singles and didn’t get any mixed-doubles rubbers, so I really wanted this one so badly,” mentioned Boulter.
“I feel like we both played so great together considering it’s our first time. But I’m just thrilled to get the win.”
Nice Britain face Australia on Wednesday at 5am, stay on Sky Sports activities Major Occasion and Sky Sports activities Tennis, the place victory would safe a spot within the quarter-finals.
Germany are the defending champions of the group occasion, which is a part of the build-up to the Australian Open, which begins on January 12.
Osaka wins on return amid protests in opposition to opponent
4-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka made a profitable return to the courtroom after an nearly three-month absence within the first spherical of the Auckland Traditional, undeterred by protests outdoors the stadium in opposition to her Israeli opponent.
Osaka beat qualifier Lina Glushko 6-4, 6-4 in a good contest in her first match since October when a again harm on the China Open ended her 2024 season.
Osaka needed to take care of a swirling wind on centre courtroom and with delays in play brought on by the chants of a small group of protesters which had been clearly audible throughout the stadium. There was an extended break as Osaka was poised to serve out the primary set when Glushko needed to depart the courtroom for therapy to a hip harm.
“I just heard a lot of shouting, and then people on the sidelines were telling me there was protests,” Osaka mentioned.
“I had no idea what the score was most of the time. I just kept trying to tell myself one point at a time and trying not to get discouraged. Thankfully it came out in my favour in the end.”
Britain’s Emma Raducanu can be again in motion on Tuesday morning in Auckland.
Watch the United Cup, plus ATP and WTA occasions Brisbane, Auckland and Hong Kong this week stay on Sky Sports activities Tennis. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
