Felix Auger-Aliassime carried his strong 2025 form into the new season with a commanding tie-clinching victory for Canada against China on Sunday at the United Cup in Sydney.
The 25-year-old, at a career-high No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings, overpowered Zhang Zhizhen 6-4, 6-4 with an authoritative, big-hitting performance. The win — his first opening victory of a season since 2021 — followed an impressive comeback earlier from 19-year-old Victoria Mboko, sealing an unassailable 2-0 lead for Canada.
“I can be very pleased with this first match of the year,” said Auger-Aliassime. “Tennis is about rhythm, playing important points under pressure, so you never know what to expect. I woke up this morning hoping for the best, and then I played some of my best tennis.”
Auger-Aliassime and Mboko then ensured a 3-0 sweep by teaming to defeat Xiaodi You and Rigele Te 6-1, 6-3 in the mixed doubles rubber.
Auger-Aliassime ended the 2025 season in fine form, highlighted by a semi-final run at the US Open, a title at the ATP 250 in Brussels and a last-four finish at the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals. He showed no signs of slowing down as he launched his 2026 campaign.
His serve proved especially decisive against Zhang, as he won 87 per cent (33/38) points behind his first delivery and saved the only break point he faced to level their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 1-1.
Moooood in Sydney 😍#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/xVYwuzsWvC
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 4, 2026
Earlier, Mboko rallied from a set down on her United Cup debut to defeat Lin Zhu 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 in 1 hour, 39 minutes. Zhu had won their only previous meeting, but Mboko responded with an emphatic finish.
It was Mboko’s sixth consecutive win on the WTA Tour after she ended 2025 on a five-match winning streak that earned her the second WTA Tour title of her season in Hong Kong.
