PERTH, Australia — Kazakhstan reached the quarterfinals of the United Cup blended workforce 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 organize for subsequent month’s Australian Open, received a good opening set in opposition to Sakkari earlier than powering forward 5-0 within the subsequent.
She was damaged late however stayed composed to shut out the competition on serve, leaving her new coach Goran Ivanisevic beaming within the dugout.
“We have simply been working a pair weeks collectively. That is our first official event,” Rybakina mentioned. “We’re nonetheless attending to know one another a bit. He is a enjoyable man. He offers some expertise from when he performed and in addition as a coach. I am simply comfortable to work with him. Hopefully we’ll have some good outcomes collectively.”
Shevchenko pulled off a significant upset earlier when he downed an sick and error-prone world No. 11 Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-6 (0) to place Kazakhstan on track for victory within the Group C tie in Perth.
“It’ll undoubtedly go in my document as one among my greatest wins,” Shevchenko mentioned. “He wasn’t at his greatest as we speak however nonetheless I performed rather 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, profitable 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 situation to down Billy Harris 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
World No. 2 Iga Swiatek will probably be in motion when Poland face Norway in Group B, whereas defending champions Germany meet China in Group E.
Reuters contributed to this report.
