Alex de Minaur's Brilliant Win at United Cup Highlights Australia's Narrow Loss to Argentina
The United Cup kicked off with some intense action as Australia faced Argentina in a gripping opening encounter, where Alex de Minaur showed his incredible form. The Australian world number nine had a strong start to the season, delivering an outstanding performance to keep Australia’s hopes alive in the competition. But despite de Minaur's dominance, Argentina ultimately triumphed, winning the tie 2-1.
De Minaur was on fire during his singles match against Argentina's Tomas Etcheverry. The Sydney native blasted through the first set, winning 6-1 in just 28 minutes, much to the delight of the home crowd. Etcheverry fought back in the second set, managing to make things tougher for de Minaur, but the Australian maintained his composure, sealing the match 6-4 to secure the only win for Australia. In his post-match interview, de Minaur credited his pre-season preparations for his high level of play, saying he felt “comfortable with the way I was playing” and was confident in executing his game plan.
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De Minaur's victory came at a crucial moment after Olivia Gadecki, in the first match of the day, lost her singles match 6-4, 6-4 to Nadia Podoroska. Gadecki showed some nerves, especially in the first set, and though she made a push in the second, errors prevented her from completing the comeback. "It’s never easy, the first match back, but I’m happy with how I competed," she reflected, determined to improve as the tournament progresses.
In the mixed doubles, the pressure mounted as Matthew Ebden and Ellen Perez faced Etcheverry and Maria Carle. Unfortunately for Australia, they were unable to capitalize on the momentum de Minaur had generated, losing the doubles match 6-2, 6-4, which handed Argentina the tie.
The loss left Australia in a difficult spot, having to regroup quickly for their next match against Great Britain. Team captain Lleyton Hewitt remains optimistic despite the setback, drawing on the resilience shown by the team last year when they recovered from a similar defeat to eventually reach the quarter-finals. As Hewitt put it, the team now has three days to prepare, focus on recovery, and take on the challenge ahead.
As for de Minaur, he was thrilled with his form, describing it as “the best I’ve felt since Wimbledon.” It was a solid start to his season, showing no signs of the hip injury that derailed his 2024 Wimbledon campaign. With the Australian Open just around the corner, de Minaur’s performance was a clear message to his rivals—he is back and ready for more.
Though the team may have lost the tie, de Minaur’s stunning performance brought hope for what is to come. Now, with the next match against Great Britain just days away, Australia will need to stay focused and make every effort count in the race for a spot in the United Cup finals.
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