Argentina made a winning start in the 2026 edition of the United Cup mixed-gender team tennis competition, claiming their first team victory by beating Spain in their opening match in Perth on Friday. Singles wins by Sebastian Baez and Solana Sierra gave Argentina a 2-0 lead before Guido Andreozzi and Maria Lourdes Carle triumphed in the mixed doubles match, securing a comprehensive victory.
Match Highlights
- World No. 66 Sierra clinched the win for Argentina in Group A with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 triumph over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. This followed Baez’s victory over Jaume Munar, with a score of 6-4, 6-4.
- Andreozzi and Carle then downed Yvonne Carvalle-Reimers and Inigo Cervantes 7-6(6), 6-2 in the mixed doubles rubber, earning Argentina a resounding 3-0 triumph.
Upcoming Challenges
The South American nation will next face top seeds and defending champions Team USA in their remaining Group A match. Argentina is hoping to advance from the group-stage play for the first time in three tournament appearances, bolstered by its second-highest and highest-ranked players in the ATP and WTA Rankings, respectively.
Sierra’s grit was a standout feature of the match, lasting 2 hours and 2 minutes as she regrouped emphatically after losing a 5-2 lead in the second set. She was two points away from a straight-sets victory twice in the second set, having 30-30 while serving at 5-3, and on return at 5-4. Ultimately, she needed three sets to top World No. 41 and notch her third career win over a Top 50 opponent, losing just eight points in the third set after dropping five straight games to lose the second.
Baez’s Strong Start
Earlier, in the first match of the 2026 ATP Tour season, World No. 45 Baez defeated Munar, giving Argentina a 1-0 lead. Making his debut at the mixed teams event, the 24-year-old Baez recorded a 6-4, 6-4 win against the Spaniard in one hour and 43 minutes during the Group A tie. This victory improved his head-to-head record against Munar to 2-0.
After both players traded breaks early in the first set, Baez gained control at 4-4 by breaking Munar and serving out the set in the next game. In the second set, the Argentine showed great composure by breaking back immediately after losing serve for a 4-3 lead. He managed to save four of the six break points he faced, according to ATP Stats.
With this victory, Baez secured his first Top 50 win since defeating then-No. 46 Mariano Navone on his way to the title in Rio last February.