Serbia forever first. The nation won Sunday, January 12 in Sydney, the first edition of the ATP Cup against Spain (victory 2 games to 1), depriving the recent winner of the 2019 Davis Cup of a double.

Led 1-0 after the defeat of Dusan Lajovic against Roberto Bautista (7-5, 6-1), Serbia returned to 1-1 through Novak Djokovic, who did not tremble against Rafael Nadal (6- 2, 7-6), inflicting on the Spaniard his second single loss this week, a few days before the start of the Australian Open, which will take place from January 20 to February 2.

During the decisive double - for which Rafael Nadal, initially announced, finally forfeited -, Novak Djokovic and Viktor Troicki first had trouble (led 3-1 in the first leg) against the duo composed by Pablo Carrena-Busta and Feliciano Lopez. But it was only a late start, and the pair that the Djoker made with Viktor Troicki reversed the situation by aligning seven games in a row, to win 6-3, 6-4.

Another match was played between Novak Djokovic (number 2 at ATP) and Rafael Nadal (number 1) during this confrontation, and he turned in favor of the Serb, who asserts his superiority: Novak Djokovic has won 10 of his last 13 confrontations with the Spaniard. His last defeat against Rafael Nadal, on a surface other than clay, dates back to the final of the US Open 2013.

With his perfect career, Novak Djokovic will catch up a little behind the Spaniard in the world ranking. The ATP Cup earns up to 750 points, in addition to an endowment of 15 million dollars (13.8 million euros).

"Playing two World Cups in one month is not tenable"

This first ATP Cup aroused enthusiasm in the stands as well as among the players, but not sure that this new competition which brought together 24 national teams has definitely won its place in an already busy schedule. Roger Federer (family reasons), Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori (injured) were not there.

"It's a great competition but, at the same time, I can't help thinking that (playing) two World Cups in a month is not sustainable," said Rafael Nadal, referring to the Cup Davis, in similar format and disputed six weeks earlier.

Serbian Novak Djokovic, who chairs the ATP players' council, said nothing else earlier this month. "We have to have a big World Cup, whatever you call it."

With AFP

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