In the team tournament taking place in Australia, Italy, beaten on their debut by Switzerland, must beat France 3-0 to progress to the next round. In Hong Kong, the Sonego-Musetti double advances to the next round
The fourth day of competition confirms how the United Cup is a harbinger of surprises. The first place goes to Hubert Hurkacz, finalist with his Poland in 2024 and 2025, upon his return to the field on 11 June (he beat Bautista on the grass of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, in the Netherlands). And the Pole, who slipped to no. 83, but former no.6 in the world, wastes no time: victory never in question, 6-3 6-4, over the current no. 3 in the world Alexander Zverev, first top 5 victory since last May, with 21 aces and only one break point granted (and saved). It thus opened the doors to the Polish victory, which was then certified by the great match, the best of the day, won by Iga Swiatek over Eva Lys 3-6 6-3 6-4, and closed 3-0 by the mixed doubles, with the 7-6 6-3 victory of Kawa-Zielinski over Zverev-Siegemund. In the other match of the day played in Sydney, the Czech Republic in group D leaves the crumbs to Norway, defeated 3-0 without winning a single set: Krejcikova’s 6-4 6-3 over Helgo is not surprising, Jakub Mensik’s 7-5 7-6 over Casper Ruud makes a little more noise. The Czech also saved a set point in the second set, closing a solid match with 16 aces. Krejcikova and Pavlasek then took care of it, 7-5 6-2 in the mixed doubles over Eikeri-Durasovic.
USA, fear and qualification
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The other big surprise of the day was Jessica Bouzas Maneiro’s first career win against a top 5 player. 6-1 6-7 6-0 against Coco Gauff the score in favor of the Spaniard, solid and always in control of the n. 3 Wta. However, it wasn’t enough for Spain, who still came just one point away from winning the match: Jaume Munar in fact pushed ahead 6-5 in the tie-break of the third against Taylor Fritz, only to succumb after 3 hours and 11 minutes 7-6 3-6 7-6. What gave the United States the victory in group A was the mixed doubles, won clearly 7-6 6-0 by Gauff-Harrison over Cavalle-Reimers-Cervantes. Greece and Great Britain, group E, also took to the field in Perth in a play-off for first place. And the Greeks led by Stefanos Tsitsipas finished top of the group, eliminating their opponents, protagonist of a far from simple victory over Billy Harris 4-6 6-1 7-6. The Greek returned to win two matches in a row for the first time since the ATP 500 in Barcelona in April 2025. Maria Sakkari was then decisive, showing off a performance almost from the good old days (now 51st, but former No. 3 in the world) to beat Emma Raducanu 6-3 3-6 6-1, with the first two sets of the highest level. The result of the tie break was then set at 2-1 by the mixed doubles triumph of the British Skupski and Nicholls over Papamichail-Sakellaridis 6-2 3-6 10-4.
Blue hopes
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These results are also important for Italy, captained by Stefano Cobolli, who will return to the field in Perth on the night between Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th January, against the France of Rinderknech and Jeanjean. The Azzurri lost the first match 2-1 against Switzerland, who passed group B first, and will be forced to win 3-0, therefore taking home the two singles and the mixed doubles without losing a single match, to cultivate the hope of reaching the quarter-finals. In fact, let’s remember that the first of the six groups go through, and the two best second groups: one from the three groups played in Sydney, one from those in Perth. With an immaculate tie break victory against France, Italy would reach a record of 4 matches won and 2 lost, the same as Argentina, the other second still competing in Perth, while Great Britain is already eliminated. At that point, the percentage of sets won will determine who will qualify for the round of 16: that of the Argentines, after two matches, is 57% with 8 sets won out of 14; 38% for Italy, with a record set of 3-5.
double blue
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But, while waiting for the Italian United Cup team, Italian tennis did not stop and was still able to fly today thanks to the pair of Lorenzo, Sonego and Musetti, protagonists of an excellent debut at the ATP 250 in Hong Kong. The two, who had not played together since the final of the 1000 in Cincinnati lost in the third set, left Miomir Kecmanovic and Alexandre Muller no chance: 7-6 6-4 the final score in favor of the Italians, who left only 11 points on the road with the former on the court, in an hour and 23 minutes. A result that also gives confidence in view of the singles, where Sonego, n. 5 seeding, will debut against Sakamoto. Musetti, n. 1, will instead face Etchevvery or Royer after the first round bye. As for the doubles, they await the winning pair between the nos. 2 of the draw Erler-Galloway and Ho-Jebens.
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