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Elena Rybakina marked her United Cup debut by helping Kazakhstan to a 2-1 victory over Spain at the season-opening tournament in Perth, Australia.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 25-year-old, who was Wimbledon champion in 2022, beat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2 6-3 to level the match after Pablo Carreno Busta defeated Alexander Shevchenko 6-2 6-1 to give Spain the lead.<\/p>\n
Rybakina, the world number six, then partnered Shevchenko to a 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (2-7) 10-7 win against Carreno Busta and Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers in the mixed doubles.<\/p>\n
Great Britain will get their campaign under way against Argentina on Monday, before facing Australia on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Kazakhstan will qualify for the quarter-finals of the 18-nation mixed teams event if they defeat Greece in their second Group C match on Monday.<\/p>\n
Rybakina, playing for the first time since beginning work with fellow former Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic as her new coach,<\/a> said: “The first match is always difficult.<\/p>\n “It’s not easy to get used [to it] that quick but I’m pretty happy with the way I played today.”<\/p>\n The third edition of the United Cup runs until 5 January 2025, with matches taking place in Perth and Sydney.<\/p>\n GB’s group fixture against Australia will see British women’s number one Katie Boulter face fiance Alex de Minaur. The couple announced their engagement<\/a> earlier this week.<\/p>\n The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season, begins on Sunday, 12 January.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n