The ATP Cup serves the first Nadal-Djokovic of the year

Less than two months after his sixth Davis, Spain is measured with Serbia in the final of the first edition of this new tournament

Just incorporated into the calendar, the ATP Cup enjoy the best possible final. With the crossing between Serbia and Spain, Sydney is guaranteed to see the faces Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, in which today is his first match since the end of Rome, which won the Spanish last May 20.

The number one and the number two of the world meet again in an indito scenario throughout their 54 disputes, as great protagonists of a collective struggle that will open on Sunday Roberto Bautista Y Dusan Lajovic (08:30 h., Teledeporte). If the revolution Davis Cup that won Spain in Canada in November was a real success, its reverse, after less than two months, is with a maximum attractive outcome.

Reluctant to change, tennis has entered a new era with the approval of events. It remains to be seen how long two team tournaments can coexist in such a short period of time, with the critics of the players themselves, but in the premiere everything has worked even above expectations.

Spain beat Australia for three wins to zero and Serbia beat Russia 2-1, although in both cases the doubles match is held in a testimonial way, as the qualifiers were already decided. Roberto Bautista, which defeat Nick Kyrgios 6-1 and 6-4, he revealed himself again as the solid player of the whole week. He has won his five games without giving up a set. One day after suffering the first defeat in 15 games against David Goffin, Nadal suffered again to neutralize Alex de Miaur's stubborn resistance, which he ended up beating by 4-6, 7-5 and 6-1.

Before an adversary of care, who had eliminated him in the quarterfinals of the Davis, Serbia took the reply with the victories of Lajovic against Khachanov and Djokovic before Medvedev.

'Nole' rules on fast surfaces

It will be a complicated encounter against Djokovic; He loves to play here. First of all I have to rest well tonight (yesterday) and get enough sleep, Nadal said after the meeting before the incipient Australian promise. Nole 28-26 dominates the longest-running series in the professional era, with eight consecutive wins when they were cited on the surface fast, 19-7 on the balance sheet. Nadal has not won Djokovic on a fast track since the final of US Open 2013.

Since Nadal won his fourth US Open and nineteenth big in New York, the trend of the global performance of both in the circuit has been reversed. After leaving in front of Stan Wawrinka as a result of a left shoulder injury, the Serbian, who had won Federer in the Wimbledon final saving two match points, decay. He took the title in Tokyo and in Paris-Bercy, but was out of the semifinals of the ATP Finals and saw how Nadal snatched the number 1.

Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 5-7 and 6-4, in the most demanding test of the last months. Without discussing its relevance, the ATP Cup has a high power of convocation by the dates chosen for its dispute. It's a perfect shoot, in Australia, just one week from the start in Melbourne of the first big it's from the season.

As Nadal points out, Nole usually develops like a cyclone at this point on the planet. Not surprisingly, he has won seven times in Melbourne, where he defended the title conquered after infringing Nadal last year or the most conclusive defeat in his clashes in Grand Slam tournaments. In a way comparable to what happens with Spanish clay, Djokovic is an ax on fast surfaces. His game seems designed for them.

The tinsel of the party passes over the collective character of the ATP Cup. The same courage to decide the first country will have the point between Bautista and Lajovic. Quin knows if we have to get to the doubles match, which Nadal and Djokovic will surely end up, nuclear, in any case, in the outcome.