The final phase of the new look Davis Cup, of which this is the second edition (it had been canceled in 2020 due to Covid-19), consists of a group stage with six groups of three teams, divided this year into three different cities, Madrid, Innsbruck (Austria) and Turin, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

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Italy knocks out the United States

Against two of the biggest servers on the circuit, American giants Reilly Opelka and John Isner, Italians Lorenzo Sonego and Jannik Sinner won resounding victories.

Sonego (27th worldwide) led the way by playing "the best tennis of (his) life" to beat Opelka (26th) 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).

He was imitated in the wake of Sinner (10th), who humiliated John Isner (24th) 6-2, 6-0 in 1h02.

Never had the American scored so few games in a game.

Italy's Jannik Sinner, during his second round match against Austria's Dennis Novak, at the AFP tournament in Vienna, October 28, 2021 JOE KLAMAR AFP / Archives

Sinner concluded his lesson with an ace - his only one of the match - which left his opponent unresponsive.

"I played really well, I didn't miss a lot of balls. And, of course, returning so well when you play against John, it's never easy," savored the 20-year-old Italian who was making his debut. in Davis Cup.

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Djokovic merciless against Austria

Novak Djokovic wants to end his record-breaking 2021 season with a second Silver Bowl.

For Serbia's entry into the competition in Innsbruck, the world No. 1 was ruthless.

It did not take an hour (58 minutes) to outperform Dennis Novak (118th) 6-3, 6-2.

Serbian Novak Djokovic, victorious over Austrian Dennis Novak, during their first Davis Cup meeting on November 26, 2021 in Innsbruck JOE KLAMAR AFP

"I love playing for my country. When you need me, I'm there!", He said for television, in an Olympia Hall emptied of any public.

Before him, Dusan Lajovic had given Serbia their first point.

Lajovic, 33rd in the world at 31, was clearly superior on paper to his opponent Gerald Melzer, 287 at 31.

But the Austrian has shown that he is better than his current ranking, he who reached the 68th in the world at the end of 2016 but who has since gone through almost two clean seasons (2019 and 2020) due to injury.

The Serbian Dusan Lajovic, congratulated by his teammates, after his victory against the Austrian Gerald Melzer (-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-5), during their first meeting of the Davis Cup, on the 26th November 2021 in Innsbruck JOE KLAMAR AFP

So that the Serbian could breathe to have finally won 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-5 in 2h42.

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Spain, affected but not sunk

Without Nadal and deprived in quick succession at the last minute of his N.2 Roberto Bautista Agut, injured in the abdominals, and his new phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz, positive for Covid-19 the day before, the holder of the trophy cumulates the difficulties.

It nevertheless held its place against a team from Ecuador more than accessible, with its leader Pablo Carreño (19th) who provided some cold sweats to the Madrid public.

Facing the 148th world, Emilio Gomez - son of Andres crowned at Roland Garros in 1990 - the Olympic bronze medalist from Tokyo let the first set slip away, was almost led 4-2 in the second, and did not came out only in the decisive tie-break (5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5)) after having nevertheless obtained two first match points at 5 games to 2. All after more than 2h30 of play .

The Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, winner of the Ecuadorian Emilio Gomez (5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5)), during their first Davis Cup meeting, on November 26, 2021 in Madrid OSCAR DEL POZO AFP

Previously, the new forty-something Feliciano Lopez had him roundly fulfilled his mission (6-3, 6-3 against Quiroz, 291st).

"I thought I would only play doubles and, with everything that has happened in the week, I find myself playing singles, it's a gift of life," said Lopez, who offered his first individual Davis Cup victory for five years.

The joy of the Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, winner of the Ecuadorian Roberto Quiroz (6-3, 6-3), during their first meeting of the Davis Cup, on November 26, 2021 in Madrid OSCAR DEL POZO AFP

But it is now that the serious things really begin for Spain: on the road to the quarter-finals, the Russian armada will stand on Sunday, with its two top 5, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, its top 20 (Karatsev ) and his top 30 (Kachanov).

"They're probably the best team, we all know it's going to be very difficult to beat them," agrees Lopez.

© 2021 AFP