Alex de Minaur delivered an exceptional performance to open his 2025 season with a clear victory in straight sets. However, Argentina condemned Australia to a 2-1 defeat in the United Cup.
The tennis player, ranked ninth in the world, brilliantly beat Tomás Martín Etcheverry with a score of 6-1, 6-4.
Unfortunately, Olivia Gadecki lost 6-2, 6-4 to world number 100 Nadia Podoroska in the first women’s singles match.
In an incredible turnaround, Olympic champion Matt Ebden and partner Ellen Perez were upset by Etcheverry and last-minute replacement María Lourdes Carlé, who won in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 in the mixed doubles.
Australia will face Great Britain on Wednesday, with a place in the quarter-finals on the line.
De Minaur was electrifying on the Ken Rosewall court, displacing Etcheverry with considerable ease during his 75-minute victory. Commentator Todd Woodbridge did not hesitate to declare that Etcheverry was just “a victim of excellence.”
Lleyton Hewitt enjoyed Alex de Minaur’s first set. (AP Photo: Mark Baker)
“I did a good job during the pre-season and felt comfortable with my game before the tournament,” said de Minaur.
“I told myself I had to believe in myself and play the type of tennis I want to play.”
“Luckily, I executed my plan perfectly and got the victory.”
After winning the first set in less than half an hour, de Minaur showed all the qualities of a top 10 player with a wide range of shots that Etcheverry was unable to counter.
Olivia Gadecki had difficulty maintaining her serve during the first set. (Getty Images: Jason McCawley)
Previously, in the United Cup, Belinda Bencic led Switzerland to a 2-1 victory over France in Sydney, while Canada beat Croatia 2-1 in Perth.
Bencic defeated Chloé Paquet 6-3, 6-1 in women’s singles, but France equalized thanks to Ugo Humbert who beat Dominic Stricker 6-3, 7-5.
Former world number four Bencic then teamed up with Stricker to beat French duo Elixane Lechemia and Édouard Roger-Vasselin 6-1, 7-6 (4).
In Perth, Leila Fernandez beat Donna Vekić 6-4, 6-3 to give Canada the lead, but despite winning the first set 6-0, Félix Auger-Aliassime was forced into a defeat 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 against Borna Ćorić in men’s singles.
Fernandez and Auger-Aliassime then teamed up to defeat Lucija Ćirić Bagarić and Ivan Dodig 6-3, 6-4 and seal the 2-1 victory.
In Queensland, Australian players Maddison Inglis and Priscilla Hon both qualified for the main draw of the Brisbane International, defeating Anastasiia Sobolieva and Guo Hanyu in straight sets respectively.
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