World number one Novak Djokovic led defending champions Serbia to a 2–1 win over Canada in the opening match of two German group opponents at the ATP Cup in Melbourne.
In contrast, Grand Slam record winner Rafael Nadal had to undergo his use. The Spaniard was due to a duel with Australian Alex de Minauer on Tuesday, but was canceled due to lower back problems. (ATP Cup: Sky Sport Checks Favorite)
“We decided within the team that I will not play any game here in Melbourne today,” Nadal tweeted. He hopes to be able to return to the court on Thursday in the second duel between finalists Spain and Greece last year. But even without him, Pablo Carreno Busta and Roberto Bautista Agut were 2–0 after two singles.
Nadal will not take any chances for the Australian Open starting next week in Melbourne. There he wants to be the only Grand Slam record winner with one more win and then record 21 wins. So far, he is ranked first in this ranking alongside Swiss Roger Federer, who will not debut in Australia.
Djokovic defeated Shapovalov
Djokovic, on the other hand, presented himself in top shape on day one and lived up to his role as the favorite with 7: 5, 7: 5 against Canadian top player Denis Shapovalov. After the Canadians equalized 6: 3, 6: 4 by Milos Raonic against Dusan Lajovic, Djokovic won 7: 5, 7: 6 (7: 4) against Ronki / Shapovalov in doubles with Filip Krajinovic. .
Germany will face the Canadians on Wednesday. Alexander Zverev (Hamburg), Jan-Lenard Struff (Warstein) and two-time French Open winner Kevin Kreitz / Andreas Mies (Coburg / Cologne) are in action. Last year, Germany were eliminated in the group game. Before his season opener, Zverev said, “Last year I did not win the match in the ATP Cup. I had just got one set. It was not enough for me.
Austria lost with Thiem against Italy
Austria suffered a loss to top player Dominic Thiem. The US Open champion played both his singles against Matto Beretini (2: 6, 4: 6) and Dennis Novak’s 2–1 draw against Italy in the final double. Like the Spaniards, the top player was unable to achieve early success against Argentina after winning both singles with Daniel Medvedev.
ATP Cup in Melbourne, 1st tag
Group A: Serbia / TV – Canada 2: 1. – Novak Djokovic – Denis Shapovalov 7: 5, 7: 5, Dusan Lajovic – Milos Raonic 3: 6, 4: 6, Djokovic / Philip Krzinovich – Raonic / Shapovalov 7: 5, 7: 6 (7: 4)
Group B: Spain – Australia 3: 0. – Pablo Carreno Busta – John Milman 6: 2, 6: 4, Roberto Bautista Agut – Alex De Minauer 4: 6, 6: 4, 6: 4, Carreno Busta / Marianne Panellors – John Pearce / Luke Saville 6: 4, 7 : 5
Group C: Italy – Austria 2–1. – Mateo Beretini – Dominic Thiem 6: 2, 6: 4, Fabio Fognini – Dennis Novak 3: 6, 2: 6, Beretini / Fognini – Novak / Thiem 6: 1, 6: 4
Group D: Russia 2-1 Argentina. – Andrei Rublev – Guido Pella 6: 1, 6: 3, Daniel Medvedev – Diego Schwartzman 7: 5, 6: 3, Aslan Carjev / Rublev – Maximo Gonzalez (Horacio Zeballos 4: 6, 6: 7 (4: 7)
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