Britain eased to victory over hosts Australia in their United Cup opener on Friday with Cameron Norrie defeating Alex de Minaur the boyfriend of British teammate Katie Boulter.
Boulter showed no mercy to Ajla Tomljanovic, who missed 10 months of action this year due to a knee injury, beating her 6-2, 6-4 to clinch victory for Britain in the mixed teams event.
The British ran out 2-1 winners as Australia saved some honor in prevailing in the mixed doubles.
The winners joined Spain, who beat Brazil 2-1 to begin the competition at the 18-team tournament being staged in Perth and Sydney before the Australian Open.
Norrie lifted his level at the end to overcome good friend and training partner Alex de Minaur 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/2), repeating a victory he earned against the Aussie at the event a year ago.
South Africa-born Norrie, with family in Australia watching, ended a nine-match loss streak against Top 20 opponents as he beat de Minaur in front of a packed-out local crowd.
Earlier world number 11 Beatriz Haddad Maia got her season off to a winning start, but it was not enough to prevent Brazil from losing 2-1 to Spain.
The tie came down to a deciding doubles rubber, with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Sara Sorribes Tormo defeating Haddad Maia and two-time Grand Slam winner Marcelo Melo 6-4, 7-5.
Davidovich Fokina got Spain off to a winning start as he dispatched Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-4, 6-0, requiring four match points to earn the first victory of the tournament.
Haddad Maia then prevailed by defeating Sorribes Tormo 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 to level the tie at 1-1
