The FIP Senior World Cup kicked off in Buenos Aires on September 15, 2026, featuring high-stakes action as tennis legend Pat Rafter made a successful debut for Australia and tournament favorites Argentina and Spain asserted their dominance. The opening day of the final stage set a competitive tone, with several nations securing narrow victories in the men's draw and clean sweeps across the women's competition.
Key Results and Standings from Day 1
The men’s competition saw several tight 3-2 finishes, while the women’s tournament showcased the clear superiority of the top-seeded nations. Below are the standout performances from the opening day:
- Australia vs. Venezuela: In a dramatic 3-2 comeback, tennis icon Pat Rafter and partner Jake Benz won their opening match. Despite Venezuela taking the next two, Australia rallied with wins from John/Thomas (50+) and Daley/Jozwiak (45+) to secure the tie.
- Denmark vs. Paraguay: Denmark edged out a 3-2 victory. After trading wins in the 40+, 60+, 55+, and 50+ age categories, the duo of Frolich-Jensen/Pedersen (45+) clinched the deciding points for the Danes.
- Germany vs. Great Britain: Germany overcame an initial loss to win three consecutive matches. Victories from Silberbach/Forschner (60+), Kraemer-Schramm (55+), and Capell/Schneiderhan (50+) secured a 3-2 debut win.
- Argentina and Spain (Men’s): Both heavyweights dominated their openers. Defending champions Argentina, featuring star Miguel Lamperti, swept Uruguay 5-0, while Spain mirrored that performance with a 5-0 victory over Egypt.
- Women’s Competition: The women’s draw saw a series of 5-0 shutouts. Spain defeated Lithuania, Argentina beat Switzerland, Italy topped Uruguay, the Netherlands overcame Austria, and Belgium bested Ecuador, all without dropping a match.
The tournament continues on Tuesday, September 15, with a massive schedule of 26 matches. The morning session begins at 9 am local time (2 pm CEST) with ten women’s matches, including key matchups such as Portugal vs. Switzerland and Brazil vs. Uruguay. The afternoon session, starting no earlier than 3 pm local time, will be available for fans to watch via live stream on the FIP YouTube channel.
