SYDNEY — Former U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez led Canada to a 2-1 victory over Chile in its opening United Cup match on Sunday.
Fernández beat Daniela Seguel 6-3, 6-2 before Nicolás Jarry leveled Group B for Chile by beating Steven Diez in straight sets in Sydney.
Diez replaced Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is resting with a small knee problem.
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Fernandez and Diez then won the decisive Seguel and Tomas Barrios Vera combined doubles 7-5, 4-6, 10-8 to seal the tie for the Canadians.
“I’m incredibly satisfied with the way I played,” World No. 35 Fernandez said after her 73-minute win over Seguel. “It wasn’t the best combination because it’s my first match of the season, nerves, but I’m still incredibly satisfied with how I was able to take care of him. “
In Erth, Great Britain’s Katie Boulter stunned fifth-seeded Jessica Pegula in Pool C by winning a set to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in just about 3 hours.
The Americans tied the match when 10th-seeded Taylor Fritz beat Cameron Norrie 7-6(5), 6-4 in a deciding doubles match.
Pegula and Fritz then combined for victory over Boulter and Neal Skupski 1-6, 7-6 (4), 10-7 that sealed the tie for the defending champions.
The Americans will advance to the quarterfinals if they win their final match against Australia. All three organizations still have a chance to qualify if Australia beats the United States in the final organization match.
Later on Sunday, men’s number one Novak Djokovic returns to Perth for the first time since the 2013 Hopman Cup when he leads Serbia in their Group E opener against China’s Zhang Zhizhen.
China won their first match against the Czech Republic 3-0 and a win against Serbia would take them to the quarterfinals.
Mixed teams from 18 countries play in Perth and Sydney as part of what also serves as preparation for the Australian Open. The format is men’s and women’s singles and combined doubles.
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