Katie Boulter could be on the other side of the court to her fiance Alex de Minaur (Image: Getty)
has admitted she is dreading facing her Australian fiance Alex de Minaur in the United Cup on New Year’s Day.
The British No.1 celebrated her Christmas engagement to the world No.9 by leading Great Britain to victory over Argentina with wins in her singles and doubles today.
Boulter and her British team can now eliminate the hosts with a victory in the final Group F encounter in Sydney. But the Leicester City fan does not want to go up against her future husband and mixed doubles partner in the decisive mixed doubles.
“I don’t know about having a match against him, I think that’s going to be terrible, and a bit of a popcorn match,” Boulter said. “But yeah, let’s hope we don’t reach there and we win before.”
Against Argentina, the world No.23 beat Argentine Nadia Podoroska 6-2 6-3 before Tomas Martin Etcheverry drew the tie level by seeing off Billy Harris 3-6 6-3 6-2. Harris is playing in the place of who is resting a hip problem before the Australian Open.
Boulter then returned to court to win deciding mixed doubles with Charles Broom against Maria Lourdes Carle and Etcheverry 7-6 7-5.
“We played so great together considering it was our first time,” said Boulter.
At 5-5 in the second set, the British No.1 broke the Carle serve with a forehand winner up the line before holding her serve for the win.
Boulter was in fine form for Great Britain at the United Cup earlier today (Image: Getty)
“There might have been a few nerves,” admitted Broom, 26. “But I feel like playing with Katie, she’s so experienced. She helped me through that in a number of ways. I thought we gelled so well together on the court, good energy and the crowd was great as well getting us through in a few tight moments, so that kind of settles you down. Looking forward to the next one against Australia.”
At the Brisbane International, the doubles dream team of and Nick Kyrgios combined to beat Austrian Alexander Erler and German Andreas Mies 6-4 6-7 10-8 in an entertaining encounter.
The Serbian superstar, who will be coached by at the Australian Open, said: “I haven’t played that many doubles matches in my life, particularly in the last five years, so whatever Nick was saying, I was following.”
Kyrgios is making his return to action after playing only one match in two injury-dogged seasons. The Aussie claimed he was “surprised” that Djokovic “doubted himself” and added: “I was (telling him) ‘brother, you’re the greatest of all-time!
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“I wasn’t taking any of this for granted. I don’t know how many Aussie summers I’ve got left, so I was just looking around and loving the energy.
“We promised we were going to do this one time before either he goes or I go, so I’m glad we’re still alive.”
At the Bank of China Hong Kong Open, Cam Norrie beat American Learner Tien 6-3 7-5
“It was a tough match throughout – I had to tough it out in the end from a break down in the second set,” said the world No.49.
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