2020 ATP Cup champion Serbia kicked off its title defense with a 2-1 victory over Canada on Tuesday afternoon.
Novak Djokovic came to the rescue after Dusan Lajovic lost the opening rubber to Milos Raonic in straight sets. Djokovic defeated Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 7-5 before teaming up with Filip Krajinovic to beat Shapovalov and Raonic 7-5, 7-6(4).
“It was a very close match,” the world No. 1 said of his singles success. “Playing Shapo is always a great challenge on hard courts. He’s such a dynamic, explosive player; very talented. I thought we played on a very high level, so I’m really pleased with how I’ve started the season. This is the best way to kickstart the season, playing for your country.”
Both Serbia and Spain laid the groundwork for a possible rematch in the ATP Cup final, as the Spaniards followed suit on Tuesday night by sweeping Australia 3-0.
Rafael Nadal pulled out (not necessarily from the whole event, but at least in this opening tie) with a back issue, thus switching up the singles matches. Robert Bautista Agut became Spain’s No. 1 player and he knocked off Alex de Minaur 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. That was preceded by Pablo Carreno Busta’s 6-2, 6-4 rout of John Millman.
“All credit to both Spaniards, they played extremely well,” Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt praised. “Carreno Busta was hitting the ball like a dream the whole match [and] looked very comfortable on the hard court out there. John had a couple of chances there, [but] wasn’t quite able to take it. He was too good tonight.”
Carreno Busta and Marcelo Granollers made it 3-0 with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over John Peers and Luke Saville.
“Everybody knows that to have Rafa on the team is a pleasure,” Bautista Agut noted. “It’s a privilege to be in the team with him. We can learn a lot of things staying around him. He has been fighting 20 years in a row and we are there to complete the team, to be there, and to fight. I think Pablo and I today did a great job.”
ATP Cup Day 1 highlights
Russia also looking good
Is rafa practising or still down ? This back issue just before ao is such a put off
I have not seen any practice pics. Rafa’s on the schedule for tonight’s match v Tsitsipas. He was certainly active during the tie v Australia, being Coachdal, Fandal and Bossdal by turns. 🙂
Tsitsi will be a tough match. He played very well, served big, against The Demon and won, did well in the doubles – his dubs has come a long way since he and Rafa lost their match at the last Laver Cup! – but lost that match and the tie.
Update. Rafa won’t play v Greece, still not ready. Also South Australia found a case of Covid 19 from one of the hotels and is locking down. No matches on Thursday at Melbourne Park. (This is from @genny_ss twitter)
Ramara – I fear this is not looking good ..any update if it’s minor or looking to get worse
No play on Thursday. Australia is testing “casual contacts” of the covid-positive hotel worker, ironically a part of the quarantine program. Stay tuned for further details. Rafa did an interview in Spanish for Vamos which Genny_SS translated a bit of. Just said he wasn’t yet at his 100 per cent and didn’t want to play until then. Maybe he’s getting wiser with age and experience.