<p>At the United Cup on Sunday, Leylah Fernandez guided Canada to a hard-fought win over Chile. The former US Open finalist triumphed in her rubber match and then provided support in a pivotal mixed doubles match.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-333534″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-leylah-fernandez-leads-canada-to-victory-against-chile-in-the-united-cup-leylah-fe-750×750.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com leylah fernandez leads canada to victory against chile in the united cup leylah fe” width=”1073″ height=”1073″ title=”Leylah Fernandez leads Canada to victory against Chile in the United Cup 3″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-leylah-fernandez-leads-canada-to-victory-against-chile-in-the-united-cup-leylah-fe-750×750.jpg 750w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-leylah-fernandez-leads-canada-to-victory-against-chile-in-the-united-cup-leylah-fe-500×500.jpg 500w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-leylah-fernandez-leads-canada-to-victory-against-chile-in-the-united-cup-leylah-fe-96×96.jpg 96w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-leylah-fernandez-leads-canada-to-victory-against-chile-in-the-united-cup-leylah-fe-150×150.jpg 150w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-leylah-fernandez-leads-canada-to-victory-against-chile-in-the-united-cup-leylah-fe.jpg 767w” sizes=”(max-width: 1073px) 100vw, 1073px” /></p>
<p>Ranked 35, she easily defeated Daniela Seguel of Chile 6-2, 6-3 in 73 minutes to set up a perfect start for her team in their Group B encounter in Sydney.</p>
<p>The world number 19 Nicolas Jarry defeated 314th-ranked Steven Diez 7-5, 6-4 in the men’s singles after Canadian number one Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew.</p>
<p>It set up a decisive mixed doubles match, in which Fernandez and Diez won 7-5, 4-6, 10-8, against Seguel and Tomas Barrios Vera.</p>
<p>Fernandez, who played for the Canadian team that won the Billie Jean King Cup for the first time this year, expressed his happiness with his performance.</p>
<p>In her first singles match at the WTA Tour level in over two years, the 21-year-old broke five times and made good use of the serve-and-volley strategy.</p>
<p>“I was a little nervous because it was my first game of the season, but I’m happy with how I handled it,” she said.</p>
<p>Diez fought hard against Jarry, but he was defeated by little errors toward the conclusion of each set.</p>
<p>Jarry described Steven as a “tough player who grinds out his game.” “Thus, for the first match of the year, it was a difficult one.”</p>
<p>Because of the customary New Year’s Eve fireworks, there isn’t a night session at the mixed teams tournament in Sydney.</p>
<p>After defeating Australia to begin the event, Britain led 1-0 against the US when the reigning champions lost to Katie Boulter in Perth’s Group C. Jessica Pegula fell to Boulter 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.</p>
<p>After coming back from a set and double-break down, Boulter won her maiden match against a top-five player on her ninth try.</p>
<p>Later, Pegula’s partner Taylor Fritz, ranked tenth, squares up against Cameron Norrie.</p>
<p>World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will make his Serbian debut against Zhang Zhizhen of China in Perth. The Chinese squad is coming off a 3-0 victory against the Czech Republic in Group E.</p>
