Iga Swiatek stormed to a commanding victory in her season opener on the United Cup on Monday, whereas Stefanos Tsitsipas faltered as Kazakhstan shocked Greece to safe a spot within the knockout spherical of the mixed-team event.
The five-time Grand Slam champion returned to motion for the primary time because it was revealed in late November that she had served a one-month doping ban.
Showing no indicators of nerves, the Polish star dominated in Sydney, delivering a powerful 6-1, 6-0 win over Norway’s Malene Helgo.
“I’m pleased with everything, honestly. I’m happy, for sure, with the performance,” mentioned the world No. 2.
“It’s not at all times straightforward to play to your nation; generally the strain is a bit greater.
“I feel good, I feel happy, happy I can play tennis overall,” she added. “I’m just going step by step, and we’ll see what’s next.”
The 23-year-old examined optimistic for the guts remedy trimetazidine (TMZ) in an out-of-competition pattern in August when she was ranked No. 1.
However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted that the violation was not intentional, and she or he escaped with a one-month sanction.
While Swiatek was in electrical type, Greek star Tsitsipas had a day to neglect.
Coming off a mediocre 2024, by which his rating dropped from a career-high No. 3 to No. 11, he hoped for a confidence-boosting contemporary begin in Perth.
But he was shocked 6-4, 7-6 (0) by 78th-ranked Alexander Shevchenko.
Germany and China advance
Kazakh world No. 6 and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina then survived a late wobble to bury Greek hopes with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Maria Sakkari.
“I’m really happy for the team,” mentioned Rybakina, now working with Novak Djokovic’s former coach Goran Ivanisevic. “We all tried onerous.
“It was a tough match for me today, and I’m so happy to be in the quarterfinals.”
Rybakina took the primary set and led 5-0 within the second, however former world No. 3 Sakkari gained three video games in a row to threaten a comeback.
Rybakina got here via on her third match level as Sakkari mishit an overhead.
“At 5-0, you have nothing to lose. She played more aggressively and hit some good shots,” Rybakina mentioned.
Shevchenko known as his win over a sluggish Tsitsipas “one of the best” of his profession.
“He was not at his best today. But I played really well and found the moment to win that match,” he mentioned. “It will definitely go in my record as one of my best wins.”
Defending champions Germany, led by Alexander Zverev, defeated China 2-1 within the Perth night session as each nations reached the quarterfinals.
The Germans topped their group and can face Kazakhstan on Wednesday. China superior as the very best runner-up in Perth.
Second-ranked Zverev recovered from a poor begin to beat Zhang Zhizhen 2-6, 6-0, 6-2, however Gao Xinyu shocked Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to even the tie.
The German pair mixed in combined doubles to defeat Zhang Shuai and Zhang Zhizhen 6-2, 7-6 (3).
Zverev struggled early in his opening match in opposition to the inconsistent Zhang, who dominated the primary set however pale shortly.
“I didn’t start off well. I was missing more shots from my backhand side, which is normally the most stable,” Zverev mentioned. “He was additionally enjoying extraordinarily effectively, so aggressively. He was not letting me into the match or discover my rhythm.
“Then I found my rhythm, and I’m happy with my performance in the second and third sets.”
In Sydney, Katie Boulter led Britain to victory over Argentina, with all three groups within the group, together with hosts Australia, nonetheless in competition for the knockout rounds.
World No. 24 Boulter defeated One hundredth-ranked Nadia Podoroska 6-2, 6-3.
Underdog Billy Harris appeared set to seal the tie for Britain after taking the primary set in opposition to Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
However, the Argentine rallied for a gutsy 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win, sending the tie to a deciding combined doubles match.
Etcheverry returned with Maria Carle to face Boulter and Charles Broom, however the British duo prevailed 7-6 (4), 7-5.
Source: www.dailysabah.com