John Peers and Samantha Stosur ensured Australia finished its United Cup campaign with victory Tuesday when they defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and David Vega Hernandez 6-2, 6-3 to give the home nation a 3-2 win against Team Spain.
The pair was dominant throughout the 58-minute clash, winning 97 per cent (28/29) of their first-serve points and not facing a break point in the match to triumph on Ken Rosewall Arena.
With Great Britain already confirmed as the winner of Group D, neither Spain or Australia advance out of the group stage.
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Earlier, Bouzas Maneiro stepped in for an injured Paula Badosa and delivered a win for Spain. Ranked No. 193 and making her WTA main draw debut, the 20-year-old defeated Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2.
Spain’s WTA No. 1 Badosa was ruled out of the match due to shoulder injury, giving Bouzas Maneiro a fantastic opportunity to earn her first WTA win. Gadecki, ranked No. 202, was also a late call-up, replacing an injured Zoe Hives.
The match pitted two relatively inexperienced 20-year-olds against each other for pride and ranking points. The closest Bouzas Maneiro had previously come to the main tour was three failed qualifying campaigns, twice in Madrid and once in Tenerife.
In contrast, despite having played just six main draw matches on the WTA Tour, Gadecki can already count a Top 5 win to her name. As an 18-year-old, Gadecki stunned then-No.4 Sofia Kenin at the 2021 Phillip Island Trophy.
Bouzas Maneiro handled the occasion like a veteran. Serving at 77 per cent for the match, she won 70 per cent of her first-serve points while saving two of the three break points she faced. Gadecki struggled under the Spaniard’s return pressure, getting broken five times in the 80-minute match.
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Jason Kubler then ensured a mixed doubles match would decide Australia’s Group D tie against Spain after he defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Supported by a vocal home crowd, the Australian produced an all-court display, running down every shot to seal his victory after two hours and 10 minutes.
The 29-year-old, who fired 10 aces and broke serve four times, holds a 2-0 record on the new season, having also defeated Team Great Britain’s Daniel Evans.