Sydney (AFP)

Spain and Serbia will play the first ATP Cup final in Sydney on Sunday in a royal clash between world N.1 and N.2, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

The Majorcan and the Serbian, the two players who dominated the year 2019 by winning the four Grand Slam tournaments - Roland Garros and the US Open for Nadal, the Australian Open and Wimbledon for Djokovic--, will be found in the second simple.

In the first semi-final on Saturday, Serbia dominated Russia 3 wins to 0. In the second, Spain leads 2 to 0 against Australia after the first two singles won by Roberto Bautista (N. 10 world) and Nadal, and is therefore assured of the victory over Australia even before the double.

But how hard it was for Djoko and Rafa! After the victory of their respective teammates, Dusan Lajovic for Serbia, Roberto Bautista for Spain, they had to bring the second point, that of victory, to their team.

They both had to fight for three sets before reaching it: Djokovic had a hard time defeating Daniil Medvedev, who exploded at the highest level in 2019, notably reaching the final of the US Open, 6-1, 5 -7, 6-4. Nadal then managed to get rid of the young Australian wolf Alex De Minaur (N. 18) by overcoming the loss of the first set, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

- "Exceptional and exhausting" -

"It was an exceptional and exhausting match, with a lot of rallies. Daniil Medvedev is one of the best players in the world, and he showed why today," said Djokovic. "It is difficult to get out of the court, big, and has good service," added the world No. 2.

Djokovic, who had lost the first set against the Canadian Denis Shapovalov in quarters, this time started in a storm, to win against the world No.5 the first set 6-1 in just over half an hour.

But, while the Serbian had broken in the first game of the second set, another match started: Medvedev won the following three games, Djoko got angry and the Russian tied a round everywhere.

In the decisive set, after several games of very high intensity, the Serb nevertheless managed the decisive break at 2-2, coming to finish the point on the fly.

Reverse scenario in the other semi-final, where Nadal gave up the first heat. Shaken by an Alex De Minaur wound up like a clock, the Majorcan ceded his service from the first game, and was never able to make up for this break in delay in the first set.

In a second very indecisive act, Rafa rushed into the only breach opened by De Minaur: a break point ball at 5-5, before playing a game later his first set ball. Then he flew into the decisive heat.

"Alex played at a very high level, as for me, I had a little less power and energy than usual", recognized Rafa, who had to do violence to keep up the pace imposed by De Minaur in the second set.

Nadal and Djokovic will fight battle Sunday for the 55th time: the Serb leads for the moment in the number of victories, 28 to 26.

© 2020 AFP