Casper Ruud makes big statement as Alex de Minaur wins to level Manchester United Cup | ATP Tour
federation cup
Ruud makes big statement with De Minaur win to level Manchester United Cup
Australia drew 1-1 with Norway
January 3, 2026
Jason McCauley/Getty Images
Casper Ruud beat Alex de Minaur in straight sets on Saturday night in Sydney.
Author: ATP/WTA Staff
If Casper Ruud’s performance at the Fed Cup on Saturday night is an indication of things to come in 2026, the rest of the ATP Tour events will also be in focus.
With a perfect performance, the Norwegian defeated local star Alex De Minaur 6-3, 6-3 in 1 hour and 34 minutes, leveling Norway and Australia at 1-1.
“I’m happy to get off to a good start,” Rudd told ATP No. 1 club member Jim Courier during an on-court interview. “Beating Alex in Australia is one of the toughest challenges in our sport, so I’m really excited to now have it on my resume.”
Luther played aggressively and decisively, leaving De Minaur unable to find his rhythm. The former PIF ATP No. 2 saved all five break points he faced and kept the pressure on the Australian’s serve, winning 10 break opportunities and converting three.
“It’s a great start to the new season,” Rudd said. “I think we all saw that Alex was in better shape than he was today. He made some unforced errors that he normally wouldn’t, so I got some free points here and there. You saw he was struggling with his serve at the beginning, so I got a free break and built from there.”
The first match of Group D will be decided by the mixed doubles after the home team Storm Hunters took a 1-0 lead earlier in the night. Hunter and John-Patrick Smith will star as Viktor Durasovich and Ulrike Aikari.
Photo credit: Jason McCauley/Getty Images
Hunter beat Marlene Helgo 6-2, 7-6 (3) as Australia kicked off its 2026 Fed Cup campaign.
Hunter, 31, returned to action last season after missing nearly a year from March 2024 to March 2025 due to an Achilles tendon injury that required surgery. She was a last-minute replacement on Saturday for Australia’s No. 1 Mayan United side, who were absent due to illness.
The veteran left-hander got off to a fast start against the 26-year-old Helgo, who was making his fourth Fed Cup appearance. Hunter broke serve twice in the first set and won 6-2.
Helgo, ranked 532nd and seeking her first WTA Tour victory, led 4-1 in the second set before former doubles world No. 1 and Grand Slam mixed doubles champion Hunter tied the score at 5-5.
Helgo saved three break points in the crucial 11th game to lead 6-5, but Hunter held serve and forced the game into a tiebreaker. The Australian then dominated the tiebreak to seal the victory 6-2, 7-6 (3).
