- Australia lose opening night match against Great Britain 2-1
- Hosts need to beat USA to have any chance of making quarter-finals
Australia have suffered an opening-night flop at the United Cup, but Alex de Minaur hopes his disappointing loss to Briton Cameron Norrie ends up being a good omen for 2024.
De Minaur looked rusty at the start of Friday night’s showdown with Norrie at Perth’s RAC Arena, but he fought back to take it to a deciding third set before losing 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-2) in two hours 20 minutes. Great Britain then raced out to an unassailable lead in the tie after world No 56 Katie Boulter defeated Ajla Tomljanović 6-2, 6-4.