Spain, in its second semifinal in as many editions of the ATP Cup, will face Italy at dawn this Saturday (00:00, #Vamos), at the John Caine in Melbourne, for a place in the qualifying round for the title which also played last year. All the lights point to Rafa Nadal, who did not play in the group stage against Australia or Greece and is doubtful, with few options, for the crossing against a good team led by Matteo Berrttini and the brilliant and unpredictable Fabio Fognini. The Spaniard prioritizes, of course, arriving in good condition at the Australian Open, but according to the captain of the Navy, Pepe Vendrell, “is trying everything, putting all the means at his disposal to improve”.
“What we are not going to do is burden him or put him under pressure. He has to see himself, he has been competing for a long time and knows his body well. He will make the best decision for the group.”commented Roberto Bautista's coach, who assures that everyone has seen him “work and try to recover.” “Whether on the court or from the bench, it will surely end up adding a lot to us.” In principle, the number two in the world does not appear in an official order of play that faces Carreño against Fognini (7-0 for the Asturian in the particular balance) and Bautista with Berrettini (3-1 in favor of the Roman). The man from Gijón and Marcel Granollers would play the doubles against Bolelli and Vavassori, although except for Spain, almost all teams have always changed the choice for the point in pairs.
Bautista is clear that if the azzurri “They are in the semifinals because they are a great team, with two very good players.” “I think the singles will be very close. Berrettini had two good games and Fognini was good in the second tie. We are well, in shape. It will be a beautiful and contested series. “Vendrell believes that it will be a” very demanding match, against world-class tennis players. ” “We have to think a lot about ourselves and try to do our best tennis. If we succeed we will have options, without a doubt, at every point.”
Germany against Russia
At the same time as Spain and Italy, but in the Rod Laver, Germany and Russia will look for the other pass to the final. Jan-Lennard Struff, who is in high spirits, will meet Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev with Daniil Medvedev in the rematch of the title match of the last ATP Finals, which ended with the Muscovite victory.
Order of play for the ATP Cup semi-finals.