De Minaur’s Bounce-Back Fuels Australia’s United Cup Triumph
In Sydney’s electric Ken Rosewall Arena, Alex de Minaur turned early frustration into a decisive 2-1 edge over Czechia, propelling Australia to top Group D while both nations advance in the United Cup 2026.
In the humid pulse of Ken Rosewall Arena, Australia staged a gritty reversal against Czechia to claim a 2-1 win in United Cup 2026 Group D. The host crowd’s anticipation thickened the air as Barbora Krejcikova struck first for the visitors, her baseline command forcing Maya Joint into a straight-sets defeat. Yet the tie’s drama unfolded through tactical resets and shared resolve, with both teams securing quarterfinal spots in Sydney.
Joint, returning after illness kept her out of Australia’s opener, absorbed Krejcikova’s heavy topspin from the baseline. The Czech, ranked No. 63, built a 4-1 lead in the first set with crosscourt forehands that skimmed the lines, though Joint rallied to 4-3 before a down-the-line backhand winner sealed it 6-4. The second set followed suit, Krejcikova racing to four straight games en route to a 6-1 finish in 1 hour and 15 minutes.
“Felt really good to be back out here today,” Joint said to reporters. “I felt ready to play and ready to compete. Yeah, I mean, love the atmosphere. [I] was pretty disappointed I couldn’t play the first match.”
Let’s gooooo! @BKrejcikova with the win over Joint 🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/krNmxKl40C
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 6, 2026
Krejcikova’s form echoed her straight-sets victory over Norway’s Malene Helgo in Czechia’s debut tie, sharpening her aggression on the medium-paced hard courts.
“I’m very happy with my performance,” Krejcikova said on court. “I’m happy with the way I played from beginning to end. I had great support as well. It was a little up and down in the first set, but I’m happy to come through. I was trying to be aggressive from the start, and it’s nice to have some matches under my belt. I felt a little better on the court today.”
Krejcikova builds Czechia’s edge
The two-time Grand Slam champion varied her backhand slice to throw off Joint’s flat groundstrokes, preventing clean inside-in returns amid the arena’s rising murmurs. On this surface, where balls bounce true but demand quick adjustments, Krejcikova’s one–two pattern—serve into deep forehand—pinned her opponent deep, amplifying the pressure of Czechia’s pivotal position in the group. Her win handed the visitors a 1-0 lead, yet the crowd’s energy hinted at Australia’s brewing response, turning the tie into a test of collective nerve.
Joint’s effort exposed subtle gaps in the Czech’s net play, but Krejcikova’s patience in rallies kept errors at bay, her footwork slicing through the humid evening. This opener blended individual poise with team stakes, where one player’s rhythm could sway qualification odds. As the lights intensified, the focus shifted to the men’s singles, where home advantage might rewrite the script.
De Minaur resets the momentum
Alex de Minaur stepped up carrying the weight of his straight-sets loss to Casper Ruud in Australia’s group start, channeling it into a composed takedown of Jakub Mensik. The Australian’s speed dismantled the Czech’s booming serves, saving all four break points in a 6-4, 6-1 victory over 1 hour and 31 minutes. Mensik’s flair peaked with a front-facing tweener off a first delivery in the second set, but de Minaur’s crosscourt passing shots turned defense into dominance, extending his 5-0 head-to-head edge.
De Minaur shortened points with low slices that exploited the hard court’s pace, forcing Mensik into uncomfortable net forays. The Ken Rosewall faithful erupted as his forehand down-the-line clinched the set, the roar blending with the slap of balls on court. This leveler at 1-1 recalibrated the tie, injecting psychological lift into Australia’s campaign while testing Czechia’s depth.
“I didn’t start the year the way I wanted to,” de Minaur said, who fell to Casper Ruud in his first group match. “But something I’ve done really well in my career is bouncing back, so I’m happy I bounced back today.”
Check the United Cup: Scores | Standings for Group D updates.
Mixed doubles clinches home glory
De Minaur joined Storm Hunter in mixed doubles against Miriam Skoch and Dalibor Svrcina, their synergy turning the decider into a 6-2, 6-3 statement. Hunter’s net poaching paired with de Minaur’s returns disrupted the Czechs’ baseline rhythm, lobs and volleys creating quick transitions on the quick hard. The Australian duo fed off the crowd’s crescendo, their shared energy easing the format’s intimate pressures.
Czechia’s pair countered with overheads and lobs, but fatigue from Krejcikova’s earlier effort showed in unforced errors, allowing Australia to top the group. Despite the defeat, the visitors advanced as Sydney’s best runner-up, @BKrejcikova‘s point proving crucial—relive it via pic.twitter.com/krNmxKl40C from January 6, 2026. As quarterfinal paths converge, de Minaur’s resilience previews the grind ahead, where team ties sharpen individual edges for the season’s majors.
