ARGENTINA played the role of party poopers at the United Cup in Sydney last night, stunning home side Australia in the mixed doubles to close out the tie 2-1. In a decisive doubles match, South American pair Maria Carle and Tomas Etcheverry stunned mixed doubles specialists Ellen Perez and Matthew Ebden, to move one win closer to the knockout stages of the tournament.

In the first of the Group F matches, Argentina raced ahead when Roland Garros semi-finalist Nadia Podoroska made light work of Aussie number one Olivia Gadecki 6-2 6-4 in an hour and 29 minutes. The tie was levelled when the green and gold’s usual hero Alex de Minaur stepped up to the plate. As he so often has, de Minaur bulldozed past Etcheverry 6-1 6-4 in an hour and 16 minutes.

However despite the Aussies confidence in the mixed doubles with both Ebden and Perez – who have been Top 10 in the format, Ebden number one – they fell to the Argentinian pair of Carle and Etcheverry who played 44 matches between them in doubles last year, and are both ranked outside the Top 200. The loss means Australia will need to defeat Great Britain in order to have a chance at qualifying.

However while not experienced together on the court as such, Etcheverry said he and Carle did have a special bond.

“It was a tough match for me in the singles. Alex played incredible tennis today,” Etcheverry said. “I was with the captain in the locker room. I spoke to him and he [asked] if I was fine to play. “I know Lourdes since we were children, very young, so it was really special for me to share the court with her and we got the victory, so we are extremely happy of course.”

Argentina will qualify for the next stage if it can defeat Great Britain, which looms as an easier challenge on paper than Australia. However a loss would go to head-to-heads and sets and games won, though the South American nation is placed well there too.

ARGENTINA (2) defeated AUSTRALIA (1)

Nadia Podoroska (ARG) defeated Olivia Gadecki (AUS) 6-2 6-4
Alex de Minaur (AUS) defeated Tomas Etcheverry (ARG) 6-1 6-4
M. Carle/T. Etcheverry(ARG) defeated E. Perez/M. Ebden (AUS) 6-2 6-4

In the other tie over in Perth, Greece duo Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari survived an almighty scare from Spain to go one-up in the group and ensure that they still have a chance to qualify. Spain was coming off a loss to Kazakhstan and are now eliminated from the tournament, with the winner of Greece and Kazakhstan to determine Group C’s victor.

The tie looked gloomy early for the Mediterranean nation when former Top 5 talent Sakkari barely ushered a whimper in a forgettable 6-2 6-1 defeat to Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Luckily for her, Tsitsipas was able to grind out a win over Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 4-6 6-3 with his opponent showing his form against Kazakhstan.

Coming into the decisive doubles, the pair of Top 10 singles players teamed up again, taking on Spanish doubles duo Sergio Martos Gornes and Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers.Despite going a set down, the duo held their nerve to win in the third set super tiebreak 10-6, for a 4-6 6-3 10-6 overall victory.

“There isn’t a single Greek night without some drama,” Tsitsipas said. “I’m super grateful that I have a fighter like Maria beside me. She never disappoints, she delivered until the end.”

“We came clutch when we had to; that tiebreak was very good from our side,” Sakkari said. “It’s always amazing to play alongside Stefanos and create good moments on the court.”

GREECE (2) defeated SPAIN (1)

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP) defeated Maria Sakkari (GRE) 6-2 6-1
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) defeated Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 6-4 4-6 6-3
M. Sakkari/S. Tsitsipas (GRE) defeated S. Martos Gornes/Y. Cavalle-Reimers (ESP) 4-6 6-3 10-6