2026 United Cup Day 1 Results (Friday, January 02, 2026)

Highlights

• Argentina Sweeps Spain in Group A Opener: Team Argentina delivered a perfect start to their campaign, securing a commanding 3-0 victory over Spain. Sebastian Baez and Solana Sierra won their singles matches, while the duo of Maria Lourdes Carle and Guido Andreozzi completed the clean sweep in mixed doubles.
• Sakkari and Tsitsipas Power Greece Past Japan: Second-seeded Greece asserted their dominance early in Group E. Maria Sakkari defeated four-time major champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets, followed by Stefanos Tsitsipas sealing the tie with a clinical win over Shintaro Mochizuki.
• Rising Star Sierra Stuns Bouzas Maneiro: In the match of the day, 21-year-old Solana Sierra upset higher-ranked Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in a three-set thriller. After splitting the first two sets, Sierra dominated the decider 6-0 to clinch the tie for Argentina.

PERTH, Australia – The 2026 tennis season roared into life on Friday at the RAC Arena as the fourth edition of the United Cup got underway. Day 1 saw spectacular performances in Perth, with Team Argentina delivering a ruthless 3-0 sweep over Spain in Group A, while Team Greece flexed its star power to seal a decisive victory against Japan in Group E.

Group A: Argentina Sweeps Spain 3-0

In the opening tie of the tournament, Argentina made a massive statement of intent against Spain.

The day began with the men’s singles, where Sebastian Baez put Argentina on the board first. In a composed performance that lasted 1 hour and 43 minutes, Baez defeated Spain’s Jaume Munar in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Baez broke early in both sets and maintained high consistency from the baseline to fend off Munar’s counter-punching efforts.

The spotlight then shifted to the women’s singles, featuring a gripping clash between two rising talents: Argentina’s 21-year-old Solana Sierra and Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Sierra, who has been climbing the rankings (reaching a career-high of No. 64 in mid-2025), pulled off a stunning upset against the higher-ranked Spaniard.

After taking the first set 6-4, Sierra faced a resurgence from Bouzas Maneiro, who battled back to take a tight second set 7-5. However, Sierra responded emphatically in the decider, storming through to deliver a “bagel” and closing the match 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 in just over two hours. The victory secured the tie for Argentina before the doubles even began.

The Argentine duo of Maria Lourdes Carle and Guido Andreozzi completed the clean sweep in the mixed doubles, defeating Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers and Inigo Cervantes 7-6(6), 6-2 to cap off a perfect day.

Group E: Greece Dominates Japan

In the evening session, second-seeded Team Greece lived up to the hype against Japan, with their top stars delivering under pressure.

The marquee matchup of the day saw Maria Sakkari take on four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. Despite the anticipation of a close battle, Sakkari looked sharp and aggressive from the first ball. She dismantled Osaka’s serve, wrapping up a convincing 6-4, 6-2 victory in 1 hour and 33 minutes to give Greece the early 1-0 lead.

World top-10 stalwart Stefanos Tsitsipas then stepped onto the court looking to seal the tie against Japan’s young hopeful, Shintaro Mochizuki. While Mochizuki showed flashes of brilliance, Tsitsipas’s experience and weight of shot proved too much. Tsitsipas closed out the match 6-3, 6-4 on his second match point, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead for Greece.

Looking Ahead

The action continues tomorrow in Perth with Team USA, led by Coco Gauff, set to face a confident Argentina team in what promises to be a blockbuster Group A clash. Meanwhile, in Sydney, the tournament expands as Group B and Group D commence play.

Day 1 Scoreboard Summary:

• Argentina def. Spain 3-0
  • S. Baez (ARG) def. J. Munar (ESP) 6-4, 6-4
  • S. Sierra (ARG) def. J. Bouzas Maneiro (ESP) 6-4, 5-7, 6-0
  • M. Carle / G. Andreozzi (ARG) def. Y. Cavalle-Reimers / I. Cervantes (ESP) 7-6(6), 6-2
• Greece leads Japan 2-0
  • M. Sakkari (GRE) def. N. Osaka (JPN) 6-4, 6-2
  • S. Tsitsipas (GRE) def. S. Mochizuki (JPN) 6-3, 6-4