Spain will be back in action at the United Cup on Saturday, when they face Stefanos Tsitsipas and Greece. Pablo Carreno Busta will get the call in singles for the Spaniards. Another tie pits France against Switzerland.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
Tsitsipas and Carreno Busta will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers when they meet again in the Greece vs. Spain tie at the United Cup on Saturday. All three of their previous encounters have gone Tsitsipas’ way, but they have not faced each other since the 2021 French Open.
This could be a good opportunity for Carreno Busta to turn the tide. The 33-year-old Spaniard posted some encouraging results after returning from injury last season and he already has a win under his belt in Perth–a 6-2, 6-1 rout of Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko on Friday. Tsitsipas has not yet taken the court this season and he ended this past year in unspectacular form, compiling a 10-9 record in his last 19 matches dating back to the Paris Olympics. Count on Carreno Busta peppering the Tsitsipas backhand, perhaps on the underdog’s way to an upset.
Pick: Carreno Busta in 3
Ugo Humbert (FRA) vs. Dominic Stricker (SUI)
Humbert has a ton of momentum behind him going into 2025. The French left-hander won 39 matches on the main tour this past year and climbed to No. 14 in the world. He ended it in especially fine form, as his fall swing featured runner-up performances at the ATP 500 in Tokyo and the Paris Masters.
Up first for Humbert at the United Cup is a second meeting with Stricker. They previously faced each other on the indoor hard courts of Basel in 2023, where Humbert silenced the Swiss crowd with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 success. Stricker, 22, has a lot of potential but has been plagued by injuries in the early stages of his career. That’s why he is toiling away at No. 300 in the rankings. Humbert is the much more experienced and reliable player, so he should be able to take care of the Swiss youngster.
Pick: Humbert in 2
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