Canada wins dramatic mixed doubles vs. Chile to clinch United Cup tie

Never count out the Canadians.

Chile was two points from claiming a riveting United Cup Group B tie on Sunday afternoon when Tomas Barrios Vera and Daniela Seguel led Steven Diez and Leylah Fernandez 8/6 in the Match Tie-break of the deciding mixed doubles. But the Canadians rallied to win 7-5, 4-6, 10-8.

"I'm extremely happy and proud of the team," Fernandez said. "It was nerve-wracking with the ups and downs, but we stayed calm and positive and used it to our advantage."

On the first match point, Seguel was unable to handle a Fernandez passing shot, missing a forehand volley on the full stretch into the net. Diez fell to his knees in celebration and shared an emotional hug with Fernandez.

"I was a little bit surprised that Felix didn't take the court but it was about time that I paid him back for winning the 2021 ATP Cup," Diez said. "The legs felt a little heavy and tired but I was really motivated and we kept it together and had a great attitude."

All three ties that have taken place in Sydney have been decided in the mixed doubles. On Saturday, the Netherlands beat Norway 2-1 and Germany defeated Italy 2-1.

^{Photo: Peter Staples/ATP Tour}
Nicolas Jarry had forced the deciding mixed doubles when he defeated Steven Diez 7-5, 6-4.

"Steven is a grinder, a very tough player," Jarry said. "So it was a tough match for the first one of the year. It's great to be here competing and getting some real matches in this great atmosphere."

In the first match of the tie, Fernandez stoked Canada to the lead with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Chile's Seguel.

Diez, the No. 314 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, stepped in for Felix Auger-Aliassime and performed well inside Ken Rosewall Arena. But brief lapses at the end of each set proved his downfall.

He's EVERYWHERE 🏃‍♂️💨@NicoJarry @unitedcuptennis #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/WekcYnNZWL

— ATP Tour (@atptour) December 31, 2023

Diez double faulted to lose the first set, and Jarry’s serve ruled the day from there. The Chilean did not face a break point according to Infosys ATP Stats and struck 12 forehand winners to one. He hit a crosscourt forehand winner to clinch the match after one hour and 53 minutes.

Fernandez got Canada off to the perfect start in its first-ever United Cup match when she cruised past Seguel.

Fernandez -- who, just 10 days ago, was named a 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award winner for her exploits that helped Canada claim its first Billie Jean King Cup title in November -- shined again while wearing her national colours to put Canada up 1-0 in its opening Group B tie. She needed just 73 minutes to get Canada off to a winning start in its debut United Cup appearance, as she broke Seguel five times in her first meeting against the current World No. 668.

Fernandez was the heavy favourite coming into the match, and played like it throughout. But in her first-tour level singles match in nearly two years, the 31-year-old Chilean, who reached a career-high World No. 162 in 2018, had a bright spot to start the second set. She broke Fernandez at love in the opening game and consolidated for 2-0, but she'd win just one more game in the match. Fernandez won three straight games from there, and three more in a row later to wrap up victory.