United Cup as it happened: Australia suffer shock loss to Argentina in opening round

That’s all we have time for tonight.

We’ll be back tomorrow to bring you live updates from the United Cup in Sydney and Perth, along with the Brisbane International.

Until then, stay safe and enjoy your weekend.

Alex de Minaur in action against Tomas MArtin Etcheverry. Credit: AP

We’ve just had the fastest press conference in Australian sport history.

Team Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt, Alex de Minaur and Olivia Gadecki were ready in the press room as Ellen Perez and Matt Ebden were walking off Ken Rosewall Arena.

It’s fair to say the mood was low, but the trio were confident they could repeat the team’s heroics from last year.

“We’ll give ourselves every chance, obviosuly,” Hewitt said. “All we can do is prepare as well as possible, and we’ve got three days off now as well. So, it’s really just trying to prepare, and we’ll recover first, and then start preparing for the next match against Great Britain and see what happens.

“No matter what happens though, it’s great preparation for these guys going in the Australian Open.”

Upset alert!

Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Maria Lourdes Carle have defeated Matt Ebden and Ellen Perez 6-2, 6-4 in the mixed doubles.

The result means Argentina win their first group stage round 2-1, and they surge to the top of group F. It leaves Australia’s future in the United Cup up in the air, with the home side needing a strong performance against Great Britain to stay in the mix for the quarter-finals.

Australia had four break point opportunities, but couldn’t capitalise on any of them.

Etcheverry saves the first break point with an impressive volley, before Perez sends the next three balls into the net.

It’s a crucial hold for team Argentina who are now up 5-3 in the second set, while Australia are serving to stay in the match.

Emotions are running high out here at Ken Rosewall Arena.

Team Argentina is up a set and a break after Matt Ebden double faults on the deciding point.

Argentina now leads 3-2 in the second set and are closer to a shock upset in the mixed doubles.

It’s history repeating itself for Australia, who lost their first round of group stages 2-1 at the United Cup last year, but luckily, they were still able to scrape into the quarter-finals.

Will the tennis gods be so kind again this year if this match doesn’t go their way?

A disappointing end to the set for team Australia after a strong start from Perez and Ebden.

Perez sends a volley into the net and Argentina close out the first set 6-2.

The Australian team spoke about the benefit of having a specialist doubles pairing during their team press conference yesterday, but it looks like an upset could be on the cards.

Ebden and Perez are the far more experienced duo on court, but they’ve got to find their rhythm out there, or risk Australia going down 2-1 in their opening round.

Argentina get the double break and will serve for the set.

A couple of errors from Ebden in that game, and now Carle will get the chance to close out the set with new balls.

Everyone was questioning the change when Carle replaced Podoroska for Argentina, but it’s proving to be a stroke of genius from team captain Horacio de la Pena.

The break is on.

Etcheverry’s return proves too strong, and Argentina take a 2-1 lead in the first set.

Etcheverry is at his best when he’s back on the baseline, which means Australia need to target him when he’s at the net and capitalise on the Carle serve.

Argentina’s Maria Lourdes Carle.Credit: Getty Images