Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka got her 2026 season off to a winning start for Japan in the United Cup after Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu pulled out of their singles clash with a fitness issue, but despite Osaka’s win, GB took the match 2-1 with a deciding mixed doubles victory.
Osaka was too strong for GB reserve and 276th-ranked Katie Swan, winning 7-6(4), 6-1 as Raducanu watched from the sidelines.
“I’m proud of how I fought,” Osaka said. “I’d never played here, it was tough.”
Billy Harris, standing in for the injured Jack Draper, began with a 7-6(4), 6-3 defeat of Shintaro Mochizuki.
“It’s great to get the first win, even if there were some shaky bits. I closed it out well at the end,” said Harris.
Great Britain sealed the match when Neal Skupski and Olivia Nicholls defeated Yasutaka Uchiyama and Nao Hibino 7-5, 4-6, 10-7.
In Sydney, Alexander Zverev clinched victory for Germany against the Netherlands as the world number three demolished Tallon Griekspoor 7-5, 6-0.
Eva Lys beat Suzan Lamens 6-2, 6-2 and Germany also took the doubles for a 3-0 sweep.
Playing his first match of 2026, Zverev dropped just seven points in a commanding second set.
“The first set, it was tough to get rhythm,” said Zverev. “Once I got the chances, I did well and I’m very happy with the win.”
The 18-nation mixed-team event in Perth and Sydney is a warm-up for the Australian Open which begins on January 18th.
AloJapan.com