Australia claimed its United Cup tie against Spain after a brilliant upset by Jason Kubler followed by a mixed doubles victory from Sam Stosur and John Peers.
The Aussies needed a perfect finish to the tie after Olivia Gadecki was blown off the court in the second women’s singles match, putting the hosts down 2-1.
But Kubler, the 29-year-old world No.107, ensured it would go down to the wire with his second win over a top-40 opponent in less than a week.
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Kubler – a former junior world No.1 who has battled brutal knee issues throughout his career – has never made it out of the first round at the Australian Open, but appears in the form that could end that drought, after taking down world No.39 Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3 4-6 6-3.
It follows the Aussie’s upset of world No.27 Dan Evans late last month, coming from down 0-5 in the second set to win 6-3 7-6(3).
Then in the mixed doubles, after top-ranked Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Paula Badosa withdrew, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and David Vega Hernandez proved no match for Stosur – who retired from singles after last year’s Australian Open – and Peers, falling 6-2 6-3.
Earlier Rinky Hijikata fell short of an even bigger upset, taking the first set against 2022 Australian Open quarter-finalist Denis Shapovalov, but 2-6 6-4 6-3 at the Adelaide International.
Great Britain had already won the group after defeating both Australia and Spain earlier in the tournament.
Aussie Popyrin beats World Number 6! | 01:18
NADAL CALLS FOR UNITED CUP CHANGES
Rafael Nadal has called for an overhaul to the United Cup format and hinted at potentially withdrawing from his side’s doubles rubber against Australia on the sixth day of the event.
Nadal was stunned by Australian star Alex de Minaur, who came from a set down to defeat the Spaniard on Monday night.
Spain’s losses so far in the tournament mean the side cannot progress from the group stage, but still has three matches to play in Sydney on Tuesday night, including a mixed doubles rubber Nadal is scheduled to play in.
After Monday’s loss, Nadal said the competition’s format needed review.
“Putting things in perspective (for) this competition, I find a negative point,” the reigning Australian Open champion said.
“Competition is great. Idea is great. It’s not great that today we are playing for nothing.
“It’s the first year of this competition, so that’s the kind of thing that we need to fix, to improve, and to make it more interesting for everyone.”
Key matchups at the United Cup on Tuesday include former world No.10 Pablo Carreno Busta up against breakout Australian Jason Kubler, while in Perth it will be Matteo Berrettini looking to start his season in style after injury hindered much of his 2022 campaign.
Nadal’s arch rival, Novak Djokovic, made his singles return in Australia for the first time since being deported from the country last January, with the 21-time grand slam champion putting in an ominous performance at the Adelaide International.
Djokovic, who lost in the doubles on Monday, disposed of 30-year-old French journeyman Constant Lestienne in just over an hour.
The nine-time Australian Open champion looked close to his devastating best, with Lestienne unable to challenge the Serbian with his deft-but-underpowered strokes.
Later, Aussie young gun Rinky Hijikata will take on world No.18 Denis Shapovalov, while five-time Australian Open finalist Andy Murray will face son-of-a-gun Sebastian Korda.
In the first United Cup match of the day, Jessica Pegula proved far too good for Laura Siegemund, coming through in straight sets.
Matteo Berrettini looked in ominous touch for Italy against Casper Ruud, with the former Wimbledon finalist drawing gasps from the crowd as he teed off at forehands throughout the match.
While he didn’t wilt, Ruud simply had no answer for the power of Berrettini, whose win put Italy through to the finals.
In Adelaide, Daniil Medvedev was forced to save nine set points before taking out a first-set tiebreak 8-6 against Lorenzo Sonego in a pulsating, 80-minute opening set.
UNITED CUP: Day 6 Order of play (all times AEDT)
Sydney, Ken Rosewall Arena
United States def Germany (Group C) [5-0]
Matches start from 10am
Jessica Pegula (USA) def Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-3 6-2
Frances Tiafoe (USA) def Oscar Otter (GER) 7-5 6-4
Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz (USA) def Julia Lohoff and Fabian Fallert (GER) 6-7(5) 6-4 10-7
Australia def Spain (Group D) [3-2]
Matches start from 4:30pm
Jessica Bouszas Maneiro (ESP) def Olivia Gadecki (AUS) 6-2 6-2
Jason Kubler (AUS) def Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 6-3 4-6 6-3
Samantha Stosur and John Peers (AUS) def Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and David Vega Hernandez (ESP) 6-2 6-3
Perth, RAC Arena
Greece vs Belgium (Group A) [2-1]
Matches start from 1pm
Maria Sakkari (GRE) def Elise Mertens (BEL) 6-1 7-5
Michalis Sakellaridis (GRE) vs Zizou Bergs (BEL)
Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs Elise Mertens and David Goffin (BEL)
France vs Croatia (Group F) [0-2]
Matches start from 7:30pm
Caroline Garcia (FRA) vs Petra Martic (CRO)
Adrian Mannario (FRA) vs Borna Gojo (CRO)
Caroline Garcia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) vs Donna Vekic and Borna Coric (CRO)
Brisbane, Pat Rafter Arena
Italy def Norway (Group E) [5-0]
Matches start from 11am
Matteo Berrettini (ITA) def Casper Ruud (NOR) 6-4, 6-4
Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) def Ulrikke Eikeri (NOR) 6-2, 7-5
Camilla Rosatello and Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) def Ulrikke Eikeri and Viktor Durasovic (NOR) 7-6(6) 6-2
Poland vs Switzerland (Group B) [1-1]
Matches start from 5:30pm
Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
Magda Linette (POL) vs Jil Teichmann (SUI)
Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs Belinda Bencic and Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL: Order of play (all times AEDT)
Centre Court
Matches start from 11:30am
Daniil Medvedev (3) def Lorenzo Sonego 7-6(6) 2-1 (ret)
Novak Djokovic def Constant Lestienne 6-3 6-2
Anhelina Kalinina vs Victoria Azarenka
Not before 7pm
Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev (4)
Not before 8:30pm
Jelena Ostapenko (7) vs Karolina Pliskova
Showcourt 1
Matches start from 11:30am
Qinwen Zheng def Anett Kontaveit (6) 6-1 4-6 7-6(7)
Marketa Vondrousova def Ekaterina Alexandrova (8) 4-6 6-3 6-3
Not before 2:30pm
Jannik Sinner (6) vs Kyle Edmund
Rinky Hijikata vs Denis Shapovalov (7)
Andy Murray vs Sebastian Korda