Dimitrov and Polina ease into Brisbane second round; Kazakhstan enter United Cup quarters

Defending champion Grigor Dimitrov eased into round two of the Brisbane International with a hard-fought win over qualifier Yannick Hanfmann on Monday, but Holger Rune crashed to defeat.

Bulgaria’s second seed Dimitrov has a great track record in the city, winning the title twice, as well as making the final in 2013.

His 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 victory over Germany’s Hanfmann was his 24th in Brisbane, more than any other player.

Djokovic and Kyrgios delight on doubles debut: Yet he has flown under the radar this year due to the presence of former world number one Novak Djokovic and the comeback of mercurial Australian Nick Kyrgios after an 18-month injury lay-off.

Djokovic and Kyrgios teamed up for an unlikely doubles appearance and won their first round clash 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 10/8 over Austria’s Alexander Erler and German Andreas Mies.

The two men rarely play doubles and got together for this tournament, although Djokovic hinted earlier Sunday they may pair up for next year’s Grand Slams.

They won the first set against the doubles specialists Erler and Mies with one break of Mies’ serve, but lost a close second set before clinching the win with a match tiebreak.

Czech Jiri Lehecka caused a major upset with a 7-5, 6-3 win over third-seeded Norwegian Rune.

Earlier, eighth-seeded Australian Jordan Thompson came from a set down to overcome former world number six Italian Matteo Berrettini 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

In other matches, French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi upset sixth seeded Chilean Alejandro Tabilo 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, while American Alex Michelsen beat Australia’s Christopher O’Connell 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (12/10).

Chile’s Nicolas Jarry downed Mariano Navone of Argentina and Japanese qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka beat Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, both in straight sets.

In the women’s draw, Russia’s Polina Kudermetova defeated China’s Wang Yafan 6-1, 6-3.

However, the Russian’s older sister Veronika was knocked out by American Payton Stearns 6-2, 6-3.

Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina progressed when her Chinese opponent Wang Xinyu retired hurt with Kalinina leading 6-4, 2-0.

In an all-Australian battle, wildcard Kimberly Birrell outlasted training partner Priscilla Hon 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan reached the quarter-finals of the United Cup mixed team tournament with a comfortable win over Greece on Monday as Elena Rybakina defeated Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-3 after Alexander Shevchenko stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina, who is using the 18-nation tournament to prepare for next month’s Australian Open, edged a tight opening set against Sakkari before powering ahead 5-0 in the next.

She was broken late on but stayed composed to close out the contest on serve, leaving her new coach Goran Ivanisevic beaming in the dugout.

Shevchenko pulled off a major upset earlier when he downed an ill and error-prone world number 11 Tsitsipas 6-4 7-6(0) to put Kazakhstan on course for victory in the Group C tie in Perth.

In Sydney, Katie Boulter and Charles Broom guided Britain to a 2-1 win over Argentina in Group F, winning their mixed doubles rubber against Maria Lourdes Carle and Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(4) 7-5.

Boulter put Britain up 1-0 with a 6-2 6-3 win over Nadia Podoroska but Argentina fought back immediately as Etcheverry overcame a stomach issue to down Billy Harris 3-6 6-3 6-2.

Swiatek powers Poland to win against Norway: Iga Swiatek romped to an emphatic victory in her season-opening match at the United Cup on Monday.

Five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek was on court for the first time since news broke in late November that she served a one-month ban for a doping violation.

But the Pole quickly shook off any nerves in Sydney with a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Norway’s Malene Helgo, needing just 62 minutes for the demolition job.

She later came back to team up with Jan Zielinski to win the mixed doubles and power Poland to a 2-1 victory against Norway in a Group B clash.

Agencies