For group F of the new United Cup, Argentina started Friday with a more than clear objective: to reverse a series against France which the French won 2-0 after the first day. On the first day of competition, Lourdes Carlé lost against Alize Cornet 6-2 and 6-1 and Francisco Cerúndolo could not against Arthur Rinderknech after a sensational 6-4 and 6-2 in favor of the European Championship, so everything was left pending hands of Nadia Podoroska and Federico Coria, who had to face Caroline Garcia and Adrian Mannarino respectively.

The truth is that Argentina was ultimately unable to accomplish the feat. The day was opened by La Peque, 195th in the women’s ranking, who from 6.30 (Argentina time) competed against the world number four and recent WTA Masters champion. The match, how could it be otherwise, was very complicated for Podoroska, who despite some flashes of good tennis never found herself at ease on the court. In the end it was 6-2 and 6-0 for Caroline Garcia, thus definitively sealing the French victory against Argentina.

Those led by Gisela Dulko went into the day knowing that, in order to continue with their chances, they had to keep both singles. In that case, the series would go to one last match: a mixed doubles to define the winner. Podoroska and Francisco Cerúndolo had been designated for the eventual match, which will finally take place, albeit without the possibility of qualifying. Similarly, Federico Coria fell 6-1 and 6-0 to Adrian Mannarino, so Argentina can already start thinking about what his next fixture will be.

After the close of the match against the French, Argentina will clash on Saturday and Sunday with Croatia, whose best players are Borna Coric (26th) and Petra Martic (39th). And he will have the last two days of the first phase free, in which the French and Croatians will face each other. The team that wins the group will compete in the “City Final” against the team that finishes first in the other area played in Perth, the A, made up of Greece, Belgium and Bulgaria.

The winner of that clash – which will also repeat with the top of the rounds in Brisbane and Sydney, the other opening stage venues – will advance straight to the semi-finals. And the loser will define the fourth semifinalist with the other two losses in that instance, who will be the one with the best record to that point. The semi-finals will be played between Friday 6 and Saturday 7 in Sydney, which will also be the scene of the final, scheduled for Sunday 8.

In any case, there is still a long way to go before the final, and nothing is said yet, even after a subdued start for Argentina. Now, the goal of the Argentine delegation made up of Francisco Cerúndolo, Federico Coria, Tomás Etcheverry, Lourdes Carlé, Paula Ormaechea and Nadia Podoroska, will be to change their face to beat Croatia and continue with their chances in group F.

United Cup, the new mixed tournament that opens the ATP and WTA tennis season

The 2023 tennis season will have a different start, because the men’s and women’s circuits will open the calendar of a new season together in the first edition of the United Cup, the new mixed-team tournament that will kick off on Wednesday evening in our country, with many of the big stars of the ATP and WTA -Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek, at the helm- and, of course, an Argentinian presence.

Three venues, eleven days of competition on Australian soil, 18 countries, a prize pool of 15 million dollars and up to 500 world ranking points up for grabs. “The United Cup will bring equality to the highest level in sport and marks a huge step forward for tennis. We are thrilled to see the best players compete together, with ranking points on the line, to open the season like never before “. Andrea Gaudenzi, president of the ATP.

Steve Simon, his WTA peer, added: “This exciting event is an important and strategic partnership between the WTA, ATP and Tennis Australia. It will be a unique experience where the final outcome can be decided with women and men competing together.” . . The competition differs from the traditional appointments of the professional circuits, from the classification system, through the format, to the method of distribution of points and cash prizes.

Twelve of the participating countries earned a place in the tournament thanks to the ranking of their best singles players: six taking into account the ATP rankings -Spain, Germany, Greece, Norway, Great Britain and Bulgaria- and six others, with the WTA ranking – Poland, USA, France, Switzerland, Brazil and the Czech Republic-. The others – Italy, Australia, Argentina, Croatia, Belgium and Kazakhstan – qualified thanks to the best combined finish of their men’s and women’s number 1s.

The 18 teams – which will have three or four players per circuit – have been divided into six groups of three. Each host city will host the action of two groups. Perth will receive zones A (Greece, Belgium and Bulgaria) and F (France, Croatia and Argentina). Brisbane, B (Poland, Switzerland and Kazakhstan) and E (Italy, Brazil and Norway). And Sydney, the C (United States, Germany and the Czech Republic) and the D (Spain, Australia and Great Britain).

Those who finish top of each group will advance to the ‘City Finals’, which will take place on Wednesday 4 January. So, for example, that day in Perth, the first team from A will play against the first team from F, which could be the albiceleste team. Three semi-finalists will thus be defined. Fourth will be the team with the best game record among the other three zone winners. The semi-finals will be played between Friday 6 and Saturday 7 in Sydney. Same venue for the final, which will take place on Sunday 8.