United Cup: Argentina down Spain in opening rubber thanks to singles wins to Solana Sierra and Sebastian Baez

Argentina have caused the first upset of the United Cup inside its first session, with the South Americans clinching both singles ties against Spain in Group A. Solana Sierra outlasted Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4 5-7 6-0 at RAC Arena to give Argentina the rubber win after Sebastian Baez beat Jaume Munar 6-4 6-4. Argentina will go into Saturday night’s showdown with USA full of confidence after bursting the bubble of their more-fancied opponents, while Spain are staring down the face of elimination ahead their own match with the Americans on Monday. Sierra was ranked 25 spots beneath the world No.41 Bouzas Maneiro, while Baez is 12 spots off the pace of men’s world No.33 Munar, but it was the underdogs who began their season with a bang. But it was by no means a breeze for either of the Argentines, with both of Baez’s set wins taking more than 50 minutes, while his compatriot’s three-setter lasted a little more than two hours. Sierra conceded an early break to Bouzas Maneiro but fought back and countered well against serve to level the first set at 3-3 before breaking at 5-4 up to take the opening set. When the Argentine broke twice inside the first six games of the second set, it looked like the match was heading for a swift conclusion. But Bouzas Maneiro responded at 5-2 down as she went on the attack, winning the next five games to level the match at one set apiece. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for her as Sierra won 12 of 17 service points faced in the deciding set as she reeled off six games in a row to end the match and inflict a bagel upon the Spaniard. Earlier, Baez slogged it out under pressure from Munar, who hit all seven of the match’s aces — but his first serve of the match raised eyebrows after it was mistakenly called out by the electronic line calling system. Munar protested the call, with the serve clearly in, causing puzzled umpire Adel Nour to halt the game temporarily before ordering a review which proved the Spaniard’s argument. Baez was able to hold serve for the first eight games before breaking to go 5-4 up and then holding his nerve at deuce to take the first set. At 2-2 in the second set, the pair promptly traded breaks before Baez broke again to go 4-3 up and eventually served out the decisive game to love. Argentina sealed a clean sweep in the mixed doubles as Maria Lourdes Carle and Guido Andreozzi beat Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers and Inigo Cervantes 7-6 6-2.