STARNBERG, February 2, 2021
Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from Spain’s opening match against Australia on Tuesday at the ATP Cup in Melbourne due to a bad back. This was announced by the World No. 2 via Twitter.
Hi all, we have decided with #TeamSpain and my team, to not play today the first match of the @ATPCup here in #Melbourne since I have a stiff low back. Hopefully I’ll be better for Thursday. We have a strong team, all the to @pablocarreno91 @BautistaAgut & @M_Granollers #vamos 🇪🇸
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) February 2, 2021
Nadal’s fellow team members Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta, however, did not let Spain feel the absence of the 20-time Grand Slam champion, beating Alex de Minaur and John Millman in their respective singles matches to settle the tie.
“Everybody knows that to have Rafa on the team is a pleasure. It’s a privilege to be in the team with him. We can learn a lot of things staying around him. He has been fighting 20 years in a row and we are there to complete the team, to be there and to fight. I think Pablo and I today did a great job,” said Bautista Agut, who defeated de Minaur 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes.
“Obviously it’s very important to us to win the first match… Rafa couldn’t play, so I am here to try to help my team,” said Carreno Busta after his 6-2, 6-4 victory over Millman. “Obviously the first match of the season is always difficult, but I think that I played really a good match, feeling very comfortable on court, so [I am] happy for the victory. Of course now, [we need to] continue fighting, because they play at home and they’re a really good team.”
Serbia defeats Canada 2-1
Novak Djokovic kicked off his season in style with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Denis Shapovalov on Rod Laver Arena before returning to lead Serbia to a doubles victory alongside Filip Krajinovic over Canada that secured their ATP Cup opener 2-1 in Group A.
“Filip Krajinovic was the key,” said Djokovic. “The way he played today is phenomenal. He came out [with] very solid returning. He found his serve, great rhythm. [He] just played some really key shots in the second set when we needed it the most.”
While Djokovic, now unbeaten in 10 ATP Cup matches, enjoyed a great start Down Under, World No. 3 Dominic Thiem of Austria slumped to a 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in his first match.
There was more joy for Berrettini as he returned for doubles duty teaming-up with Fabio Fognini to trounce Thiem and Dennis Novak 6-1, 6-4 and claim a 2-1 victory for Italy in Group C.
In the evening session, World No. 4 Daniil Medvedev and World No. 8 Andrey Rublev also won their singles matches to help Russia to a 2-1 victory over Argentina in Group D.
Medvedev edged past World No. 9 Diego Schwartzman 7-5, 6-3 after Rublev cruised past Guido Pella 6-1, 6-2 in 60 minutes.
Your winners from Day 1 at the 2021 #ATPCup are:
🇮🇹 #TeamItaly 2 – 1 🇦🇹 #TeamAustria
🇷🇸 #TeamSerbia 2 – 1 🇨🇦 #TeamCanada
🇷🇺 #TeamRussia 2 – 1 🇦🇷 #TeamArgentina
🇪🇸 #TeamSpain 3 – 0 🇦🇺 #TeamAustralia— ATPCup (@ATPCup) February 2, 2021
