Day1 Women. Reigning world champions Spain make a winning start. France-Belgium the closest tie of the day, with Les Bleues coming out on top

• Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Sweden, Portugal and the Netherlands also began their campaigns with victories. The teams return to court on Tuesday for the Day2.

 

DOHA – There was great anticipation in Doha for the opening appearance of world champions Spain at the FIP World Cup. La Roja got off to a flying start, recording three victories out of three in their Group A tie against Germany. The wins came from Claudia Fernandez and Bea Gonzalez (6-0 6-1 against Kurz/Blaschke), Paula Josemaria and Martina Calvo (6-1 6-0 against Renic/Hofer), and Gemma Triay and Marta Ortega (6-0 6-0 against Ermann/Schmitz). In the same group, Brazil also defeated Great Britain, securing the tie after the first two matches thanks to victories for Cirne/Giusti Gomes and Piltcher/Abbud.

 

Argentina, runners-up two years ago, also recorded three straight-set victories versus Chile in Group B. The first came from an in-form Virginia Riera and Julieta Bidahorria, who beat Del Real/Candia 6-0 6-1. They were followed by Martina Fassio and Claudia Jensen (6-2 6-0 against Lobo/Bentjerodt), and 16-year-old Victoria Vilchez, playing alongside Aranzazu Osoro (6-2 6-3 against Arancibia/Ahumada). In the same group, France claimed the closest tie of the opening day. After Bahurel/Collombon beat Pysson/Boeykens and Belgium levelled the tie through Wyckaert/Mestach’s three-set victory over Pothier/Touly, Lea Godallier and Clara Mansart secured the overall win with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Sermant/Vierendeels.

 

Italy also made a strong start in Group C, securing all three matches versus Egypt. Carolina Orsi and Giorgia Marchetti won 6-3 6-0 against El Halaby/Morales, Clarissa Aima and Giulia Sussarello prevailed 6-2 6-3 against Tawfik/Fathy, while Giulia Dal Pozzo and Emily Stellato completed the clean sweep with a 6-2 6-0 victory over Hakim/El Nimr. In the same group, Sweden needed just two matches to secure their tie against Indonesia, with opening victories for Girdo/Sjoland and Bjork/Kjaergaard.

 

 

In Group D, Portugal wrapped up their tie against the United States after the first two matches. Patri Ribeiro and Sofia Araujo recorded a 6-0 6-0 victory over Riobueno/Ruiz, while 15-year-old Andrea Anchando and Ana Catarina Nogueira won 6-4 6-4 against Dubins/Rodriguez Sanchez. The United States claimed the third match. The Netherlands also made a flying start, beating Paraguay 3-0 thanks to Koek/De Vocht (7-6 6-1 against Kudo/Miranda), Luttikhuis/Hemmes (6-3 6-0 against Bareiro/Cepede) and Betz/Groenveld (6-1 6-1 against Salsamendi/Garcia).

 

The teams return to court on Tuesday for the second day of competition, as the FIP World Cup gathers pace ahead of the confirmation of the first quarter-final qualifiers.