Katie Boulter got her 2025 season off to a winning start as she led Great Britain to an opening victory over Argentina in the United Cup on Monday.

Boulter beat Nadia Podoroska in straight sets in Sydney, then paired up with Charles Broom in the mixed doubles to secure the tie after Billy Harris had lost his singles rubber to Tomas Etcheverry.

The British No 1, who this week could face her fiance Alex De Minaur when Britain take on Australia – wrapped up a 6-2 6-3 win over world No 100 Podoroska in their first meeting.

Harris, stepping up on the men’s side in the absence of the injured Jack Draper, looked set to continue the winning theme as he took the first set against Etcheverry 6-3.

But a rankings difference of 66 kicked in and Etcheverry won the next two sets 6-3 6-2 to level the tie, leaving Boulter and Broom to secure victory with a 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 win over Etcheverry and Maria Lourdes Carle.

“Very, very pleased with today. Last year I played so well in singles and didn’t get any mixed-doubles rubbers, so I really wanted this one so badly,” said Boulter.

“I feel like we both played so great together considering it’s our first time. But I’m just thrilled to get the win.”

Great Britain face Australia on Wednesday at 5am, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Tennis, where victory would secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Germany are the defending champions of the team event, which is part of the build-up to the Australian Open, which begins on January 12.

Osaka wins on return amid protests against opponent

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka made a winning return to the court after an almost three-month absence in the first round of the Auckland Classic, undeterred by protests outside the stadium against her Israeli opponent.

Osaka beat qualifier Lina Glushko 6-4, 6-4 in a tight contest in her first match since October when a back injury at the China Open ended her 2024 season.

Osaka had to deal with a swirling wind on centre court and with delays in play caused by the chants of a small group of protesters which were clearly audible within the stadium. There was a longer break as Osaka was poised to serve out the first set when Glushko had to leave the court for treatment to a hip injury.

“I just heard a lot of shouting, and then people on the sidelines were telling me there was protests,” Osaka said.

“I had no idea what the score was most of the time. I just kept trying to tell myself one point at a time and trying not to get discouraged. Thankfully it came out in my favour in the end.”

Britain’s Emma Raducanu is also back in action on Tuesday morning in Auckland.

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