Spain had a huge advantage before the semi-finals even started in Sydney. Poland suffered a severe blow when Kamil Majchrzak announced that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and had been forced into seven days of isolation.
Roberto Bautista Agut from Spain reacts after defeating Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the semifinals of the ATP Cup tennis tournament in Sydney. AP
A steadfast Roberto Bautista Agut angered the ninth world number one Hubert Hurkacz to sack a Poland hit by Covid and lead Spain into the ATP Cup final against defending champions Russia or Canada on Friday.
Spain had one great advantage before the semi-finals in Sydney even started. Poland suffered a severe blow when Kamil Majchrzak announced that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and had been forced to seven days of isolation.
Majchrzak had so far won all three of his single rubbers and his replacement, double specialist Jan Zielinski , was a poor substitute.
He fell 6-2, 6-1 to world number 20, Pablo Carreno Busta, in just 53 minutes, giving Spain a 1-0 lead ahead of Bautista Agut, the ranked one place in front of his teammate, Hurkacz defeated 7: 6 (8/6). , 2-6, 7-6 (7/5) in a high-quality match.
It is the second time that Spain has made the decision on the team tournament and lost to Novak Djokovics Serbia at the opening event in 2020 when Rafael Nadal and Bautista Agut starred.
They’ll have to go without Nadal this year, but Bautista Agut has easily established himself as Spain’s number one while Carreno Busta has proven to be an impressive number two.
Daniil Medvedev leads Russia on Saturday against a Canadian team led by Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov
Changed date:
January 07, 2022 5:33:28 PM IST
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