Elena Rybakina marked her United Cup debut by serving to Kazakhstan to a 2-1 victory over Spain on the season-opening event in Perth, Australia.
The 25-year-old, who was Wimbledon champion in 2022, beat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2 6-3 to degree the match after Pablo Carreno Busta defeated Alexander Shevchenko 6-2 6-1 to present Spain the lead.
Rybakina, the world quantity six, then partnered Shevchenko to a 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (2-7) 10-7 win in opposition to Carreno Busta and Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers within the combined doubles.
Nice Britain will get their marketing campaign underneath method in opposition to Argentina on Monday, earlier than dealing with Australia on Wednesday.
Kazakhstan will qualify for the quarter-finals of the 18-nation combined groups occasion in the event that they defeat Greece of their second Group C match on Monday.
Rybakina, enjoying for the primary time since starting work with fellow former Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic as her new coach, stated: “The primary match is at all times troublesome.
“It isn’t simple to get used [to it] that fast however I am fairly proud of the way in which I performed as we speak.”
The third version of the United Cup runs till 5 January 2025, with matches happening in Perth and Sydney.
GB’s group fixture in opposition to Australia will see British ladies’s primary Katie Boulter face fiance Alex de Minaur. The couple introduced their engagement earlier this week.
The Australian Open, the primary Grand Slam of the season, begins on Sunday, 12 January.
