Elena Rybakina made her United Cup debut by helping Kazakhstan to a 2-1 victory over Spain in the season-opening tournament in Perth, Australia.

The 25-year-old Wimbledon champion beat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-2 6-3 to level after Pablo Carreno Busta beat Alexander Shevchenko 6-2 6-1 to give Spain the lead.

World number six Rybakina then teamed up with Shevchenko in a 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (2-7) 10-7 win over Carreno Busta and Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers in the mixed doubles.

Great Britain begin their campaign against Argentina on Monday, before facing Australia on Wednesday.
Kazakhstan will advance to the quarter-finals of the 18-nation mixed group if they beat Greece in their second Group C match on Monday.

Rybakina, playing for the first time since working with her new coach Goran Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon winner, said: “The first match is always difficult.
“It’s not easy to get used to it so quickly, but I’m very happy with the way I played today.”

The third edition of the United Cup will run until January 5, 2025, with matches in Perth and Sydney.
Great Britain’s group match against Australia sees British number one Katie Boulter take on her boyfriend Alex de Minaur. The couple announced their engagement earlier this week.

The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season, begins on Sunday, January 12.