Spain also faced without Rafa Nadal, who continues with his set-up due to back discomfort, the second tie of the ATP Cup group stage. The team decided to continue without their leader because after defeating Australia 3-0 they had full confidence that Pablo Carreño would obtain against Michail Pervolarakis (24 years old and 462nd in the world) the victory necessary to secure a place in the semifinals. And the Asturian complied with solvency. He won by a 6-3 and 6-4 in 70 minutes in a cold John Caine Arena, in the morning and indoors due to the threat of rain.
With this result, the whole of the Navy already knew that they would play against Italy at dawn on Saturday (00:00, #Vamos) for a place in the final, which would be their second in a row. “It will be another tough battle. We trust Rafa a lot, he is fighting to give himself options and we hope that in the end he can play “said the captain, Pepe Vendrell, after the intervention of the winner of the first match, who knew that his point was “necessary” and tried to be “focused” on his serve and play his game. “Happy”, the man from Gijón said he was trying to “take advantage of the opportunity” that was presented to him.
Then Roberto Bautista fought to finish off the task against Stefanos Tsitsipas and decorate the success with a prestigious triumph, but the Greek closed the way with a serious match and won by a double 7-5. The Castellón tried and did not lower his arms, especially when with 5-2 against he raised three match points. Then he won another two games in a row, although in the end he could not reach the tiebreaker. To finish, Carreño and Marcel Granollers' doubles only played one game and lost it to Kalovelonis and Tsitsipas, because the pair withdrew, in theory, due to Pablo's discomfort in the abdominal area, where a bandage was seen. Series for Greece and qualification for Spain, all happy on a track, the John Caine, half empty and soulless that Granollers took advantage of to stay to train with Argentine Horacio Zeballos, who will be his partner at the Australian Open.
Carreño, from more to less
Carreño's meeting pointed to a double screw for the Spanish when he opened the first set with a devastating 5-0. But between his own relaxation and Pervolarakis's outburst of pride, the duel dragged on. Pablo lost his serve and gave up three games in a row, although then he focused on closing the set and in the second set he remained solid. The Hellenic had improved and fell with some dignity at least, although he knew he had nothing to do with the 16th in the ranking and a double semifinalist at the US Open. His victory was so simple and peaceful, that Nadal barely had to speak on the bench and left the captaincy to the technicians.
Results and standings of the ATP Cup.