Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal led their respective countries to 2-0 records at the ATP Cup on Monday.
Djokovic improved to 16-0 lifetime against Gael Monfils with a 6-3, 6-2 rout of Gael Monfils as Serbia edged France 2-1. It was 1-1 going into the doubles rubber after Frenchman Benoit Paire took the other singles match, holding off Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4. Djokovic teamed up with Viktor Troicki in doubles to defeat Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-3, 6-7(5), 10-3.
“I really show my emotion because I really care about playing for Serbia,” the world No. 2 explained. “But I also care about being on the team with my friends. These guys are some of my best friends in my life and I grew up with Viktor. We played so many doubles matches together in junior days.”
Perhaps no team is closer–or better–than Spain, which won the 2019 Davis Cup title two months ago. The Spaniards are off and running in Perth, too, having cruised past Georgia and Uruguay. Nadal thrashed Pablo Cuevas 6-2, 6-1 on Monday, while Roberto Bautista Agut, Feliciano Lopez, and Pablo Carreno Busta also contributed to a beatdown of the overmatched Uruguayans.
“It was a positive victory,” Nadal assured. “I played a very solid match, my serve worked better than the first day. I think I was returning very well from the baseline. I think I played some very good rallies, changing direction better with my forehand down the line.”
Austria picked up its first victory of the ATP Cup thanks to Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak. Thiem bounced back from an opening loss to Borna Coric by beating Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 7-6(3). Novak recovered from a disastrous first set to upset Guido Pella 0-6, 6-4, 6-4.
“I’m really happy with the improvement from Saturday to today,” the world No. 4 noted. “[I had a] good practice session yesterday where I was working on the things which were not that great on Saturday, and today was really I think a match on a high level…. In general it was a great match. I think [it was] also enjoyable for the crowd. Many great rallies.”
nice one, Thiem