In the opening game of the United Cup held in Perth, Spain held off Brazil’s spirit and won 2-1. The Spanish team, led by Sara Sorribes Tormo and Alejandro Davidovic Fokina, secured victory in the mixed doubles match by defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia and Marcelo Melo 6-4, 7-5.
The win moves Spain to 1-0 in Group A, and Brazil to 0-1. Brazil will play top-seeded Poland on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, Brazil’s Haddad Maia won the first match of the new Hologic WTA Tour season, defeating Sorribes Tormo 7-6 (1), 6-2. Spain’s Davidovic Fokina started the season with a comfortable 6-4, 6-0 win over Thiago Seybos Wilde, leveling the score at 1-1.
In their most recent previous encounter, it took Haddad Maia three hours and 51 minutes to defeat Sorribes Tormo in the fourth round at Roland Garros last year, the longest WTA match of 2023.
But on Friday in Perth, Australia, Haddad Maia was far more straightforward, taking two hours and six minutes to win and improve his overall record to 4-2 against No. 48 Sorribes Tormo. Haddad Maia went a perfect 5-for-5 on break points in this matchup.
Relying on a powerful left-handed forehand, Haddad Maia overcame Sorribes Tormo’s incredible foot speed to force a tiebreak at the end of a close first set.
The 27-year-old Brazilian almost fell behind by one point at 0-3 in the second set, but then came back in six consecutive games to win in straight sets.
Matches will be played in both Perth and Sydney on the second day of the United Cup. In Perth, Marketa Vondrousova’s Czech team will take on Zheng Qinwen’s Chinese team, followed by Iga Swiatek’s Poland, who will take on Brazil.
In Sydney, the Netherlands take on Norway, followed by Angelique Kerber’s return to competition and Germany take on Italy.