- The Spaniard overwhelms Kyrgios and the Balearic traces before De Miñaur
- Djokovic's Serbia will be the rival for the title
The world number one, Rafa Nadal, has sealed this Saturday the pass of Spain to the final of the ATP Cup, the competition that is gathering in the Australian country to 24 countries, after beating Álex de Miñaur (4-6, 7-5, 6-1) and that Roberto Bautista overwhelmed Nick Kyrgios (6-1, 6-4) at the premiere of the semifinals against Australia, and Novak Djokovic's Serbia will be the rival for the title.
As it happened on Friday in the duel against David Goffin of the quarterfinal against Belgium, in which his opponent subjected him by displaying his extensive repertoire of blows (6-4, 7-6 (3)), the Balearic began hesitantly , and number 18 of the ATP ranking did not miss the opportunity to hit first.
Thus, he began the clash with a 'break' that he confirmed next to get 2-0, and that marked the first round. Although he had the opportunity to seal another break in the ninth game, De Miñaur waited for the next one to take the partial and force Nadal to react.
The equality of the second set, in which blank games were exchanged and both players exhibited their firmness in the service, was only broken in the twelfth and final game, in which Manacor made the ocean run to close, with a right and the rest, his victory in the quarter and the third party dispute.
It was the mood that the Balearic needed, which since then grew and gave no option to the tennis player of Hispanic-Uruguayan origin. Soon he put the 4-0 and only a double foul allowed De Miñaur to avoid the rapid 'death'. Another break and confirmation with his service led Nadal to win the match and Spain to the final.
In the great duel of fighting for the title they will meet Serbia, which had no problems to beat Canada, Davis Cup finalist, in the other semifinal (3-0). In this way, those of Francis Roig will have the opportunity to join another success to the achievement of the Davis Cup in the Finals of Madrid.
Baptist opens with triumph against Kyrgios
Previously, Bautista had given Spain the first point after beating Nick Kyrgios (6-1, 6-4). In the Ken Rosewall Arena of Sydney Olympic Park, the Castellon, number ten in the world, began as an exhalation in the duel of numbers two; not once did he have to face 'break' balls against him during the first set, which he soon got on track and pocketed in less than half an hour.
A setback of the ocean that remained on the net allowed Bautista to rise 5-0 to the scoreboard, after twice breaking the service of ATP 29. Kyrgios stopped the bleeding in the sixth game, but Bautista gave no choice and closed the partial service.
The balance took hold of the first games of the second round, until the Spaniard again broke the serve of his rival to put the 3-2, confirmed later in a service in which the Castellón had to defend himself from the only ball of shock breakage.
In the ninth game, Kyrgios survived two match balls, but the wound was already deadly; already with his serve, Bautista ended the contest in the first of his two opportunities to sign, in an hour and 21 minutes, his fifth victory in the ATP Cup.
Serbia and Djokovic wait in the final
World No. 2 Novak Djokovic won the Russian Daniil Medvedev (5th), in three sets (6-1, 5-7, 6-4) on Saturday in Sydney, thus getting a second point for Serbia and the pass to the final of the ATP Cup.
His compatriot Dusan Lajovic (34th) won the first single before Karen Khachanov (17th) in two sleeves (7-5, 7-6 (7/1)). Serbia qualified even before the doubles.
In the final on Sunday, Djokovic and his countrymen will face Nick Kyrgios' Australia or Rafael Nadal's Spain, world number 1, who play the other semifinal of the tournament on Saturday.