The Russian and Italian teams are without a doubt the most surprising at the ATP Cup in Melbourne, and tonight (Friday to Saturday) they qualified for the final after impressive victories in the half.
Daniel Medvedev put the Russians in the title game after a big win over Alexander Zebrav 6: 3, 3: 6, 5: 7, when the frustrated German broke one of his bats following a loss in a serve game. Earlier, Andre Rublev defeated Jean-Leonard Stroop 6: 3, 1: 6, 2: 6.
Medvedev is celebrating
(Photo: AFP)
Zebra breaks the bat
(Photo: EPA)
Zebrav suffered back pain throughout the game and had to receive treatment, which caused him great frustration. The Russians defeated the Germans 0: 2 in the meeting. In the decisive moments Medvedev missed two game points, but managed to save his opponent’s five break points to close a story. “It was weird,” admitted the world number four. “Crazy game. I’m happy about the win even though there were things I did not like in the way I played.”
Rafael Nadal, who also suffers from back pain, sat on the sidelines and saw his teammate from Spain, Pablo Carnio Busta lose to Fabio Ponini 6: 2, 6: 1 in the first game of the match against Italy. Matteo Bertini closed out an interest against Roberto Bautista Ogot with 3: 6, 5: 7.