France leads 2-0 against Argentina on Thursday in Perth (Australia) after the first day of the United Cup, a new event between mixed teams and officially launching the 2023 tennis season.
Alizé Cornet, 36th in the WTA ranking, outclassed Maria Carle (N.147) 6-2, 6-1, as did French N.1 Arthur Rinderknech (N.44) against Francisco Cerundolo (N.30) 6- 4, 6-2.
The Franco-Argentinian duel, ten days after the final of the Football World Cup lost by France against Argentina (3-3 ap, 4 tab to 2), will conclude on Friday with the French N.1 on the program and 4th world player Caroline Garcia against Nadia Podoroska (N.195) and Adrian Mannarino (N.46) opposed to Federico Coria (N.75).
The third team in this group F is Croatia.
The United Cup opposes 18 nations which are divided into six groups (two groups in Perth, two in Sydney and two in Brisbane) with two meetings each taking place over two days for each team.
A match consists of four singles and a mixed doubles to decide between the two teams if they are tied after the singles.
At the end of this group stage, the teams at the top of their group, established in the same city, compete and the three winners are qualified for the semi-finals. The non-qualified team which has the best record in the group stage will complete this last four.
Day 1 results
Group A
Greece – Bulgaria 2-0
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) beat Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4)
Despina Papamichail (GRE) bat Isabella Shinikova (BUL) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
Group B
USA – Czech Republic 2-0
Taylor Fritz (USA) whip Jiri Leheck (CZE) 6-3, 6-4
Madison Keys (USA) beat Marie Bouzkova (CZE) 6-4, 6-3
Suisse – Kazakhstan 2-0
Belinda Bencic (SUI) beat Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 7-6 (7/0), 6-3
Marc-Andrée Hüsler (SUI) beat Timofey Skatov (BUL) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Group D
Great Britain – Australia 2-0
Cameron Norrie (GBR) beats Alex de Minaur (AUS) 6-3, 6-3
Katie Swan (GBR) bats Zoe Hives (AUS) 6-4, 6-3
Group E
Italy – Brazil 1-1
Beatriz Haddad-Maia (BRA) bat Martina Trevisan (ITA) 6-2, 6-0
Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) beat Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA) 6-3, 6-4
Group F
France – Argentina 2-0
Alizé Cornet (FRA) beats Maria Carle (ARG) 6-2, 6-1
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) bat Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) 6-4, 6-2
