© AFP
The Belgian team lost its first group match at the United Cup in Perth, Australia, 3-2 to Bulgaria on Sunday. In the decisive mixed doubles match, Elise Mertens and David Goffin lost 1-6, 7-6 (7/5) and 10/6 in the super tie break to Isabella Shinikova and Alexandar Lazarov.
Jens HeylenBron: BELGIAN
Earlier on New Year’s Day, Zizou Bergs (ATP 129) lost in two sets to Dimitar Kuzmanov (ATP 196): 6-2 and 6-0. Shortly before, Elise Mertens (WTA 29) had won 2-1 against Gergana Topalova (WTA 323). On Saturday, Alison Van Uytvanck (WTA 72) already won 6-1, 3-6 and 6-3 against Isabella Shinikova (WTA 381), but David Goffin (ATP 53) had to give up 6-4 and 7-5 for Grigor Dimitrov (ATP 28).
For the Belgians it was the first confrontation in group A. Bulgaria already suffered a 4-1 defeat against the Greece of Stefanos Tsitsipas (ATP 4) and Maria Sakkari (WTA 6), opponents of the Belgians on Monday and Tuesday. With a (signed) win against Greece, the Belgians can still qualify for the semi-finals as group winners.
The six group winners play play-offs for a place in the semi-finals. Of the three losers of those playoffs, the team that performed best in the group stage is also fished out for the Final Four.
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Kimberley Zimmermann in Adelaide to doubles second round
Kimberley Zimmermann (WTA 45 in doubles) and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok (WTA 74 in doubles) have qualified for the eighth finals of the doubles at the WTA tournament in Adelaide (hard / 826,837 dollars) on Sunday.
In the first round on New Year’s Day, they settled in two sets (7-5 and 6-3) with the Chinese Han Xinyun and the German Vivian Heisen.
In the eighth finals they face the Japanese duo Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara. As the fourth seed, they were directly qualified for the second round.