Newly incorporated into the calendar, the ATP Cup will enjoy the best possible final. With the crossing between Serbia and Spain, Sydney is guaranteed to see Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic faces, which will be his first match since the final of Rome, which won the Spanish on May 20.
The number one and number two in the world are once again in an unprecedented scenario throughout their 54 disputes, as the main protagonists of a collective struggle that will open on Sunday Roberto Bautista and Dusan Lajovic (08.30, Teledeporte). If the revolution Davis Cup that won Spain to Canada in November was a real success, its reverse, after less than two months, is with a maximum attractive outcome.
Reluctant to change, tennis has entered a new era with the approval of events. It remains to be seen how long two team tournaments can live together in such a short period of time, with the critics of the players themselves, but in the premiere everything has worked even above expectations.
Spain beat Australia by three victories to zero and Serbia beat Russia 2-1, although in both cases the doubles match was held on a testimonial basis, as the qualifiers were already decided. Roberto Bautista , who defeated Nick Kyrgios 6-1 and 6-4, again revealed himself as the solid player of the whole week. He has won his five games without giving up a set. A day after suffering the first defeat in 15 games against David Goffin, Nadal again suffered to neutralize Alex de Miñaur's stubborn resistance, which he eventually surpassed by 4-6, 7-5 and 6-1.
Before an adversary of care, who had eliminated him in the quarterfinals of the Davis, Serbia took the reply with the victories of Lajovic against Khachanov and Djokovic before Medvedev.
'Nole' rules on fast surfaces
«It will be a complicated encounter against Djokovic; He loves to play here. First of all I have to rest well tonight [yesterday] and get enough sleep, ”Nadal said after the meeting before the incipient Australian promise. Nole dominates 28-26 the longest-running series in the professional era, with eight consecutive wins when they were cited on the fast surface, 19-7 on the balance sheet. Nadal has not won Djokovic on the fast track since the final of US Open 2013.
Since Nadal won its fourth US Open and nineteenth big in New York, the global performance trend of both in the circuit has been reversed. After leaving in front of Stan Wawrinka as a result of a left shoulder injury, the Serbian, who had won Federer in the Wimbledon final saving two match points, declined. He took the title in Tokyo and in Paris-Bercy, but was out of the semifinals of the ATP Finals and saw how Nadal snatched the number 1.
Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 5-7 and 6-4, in the most demanding test of recent months. Without discussing its relevance, the ATP Cup has a high power of convocation by the dates chosen for its dispute. It is a perfect shoot, in Australia, just one week from the start in Melbourne of the first major of the season.
As Nadal points out, Nole usually develops like a cyclone at this point on the planet. Not surprisingly, he has won seven times in Melbourne, where he will defend the title won after infringing Nadal last year the most conclusive defeat in his clashes in Grand Slam tournaments. In a way comparable to what happens with Spanish on clay, Djokovic is an ax on fast surfaces. His game seems designed for them.
The tinsel of the party passes over the collective character of the ATP Cup. The same value to decide the first champion country will have the point between Bautista and Lajovic. Who knows if it will be necessary to reach the encounter of doubles, which Nadal and Djokovic would surely end up joining, nuclear, in any case, in the outcome.
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