Rafa Nadal suffered a second straight defeat to Australia’s Alex de Minaur within the United Cup combined group event on Monday as issues grew concerning the world quantity two’s early season type forward of his Australian Open title defence. Was.
Nadal confirmed flashes of brilliance throughout his opening defeat to Britain’s Cameron Norrie after returning to motion from harm within the 2022 season and he appeared prepared to reply towards De Minaur, solely to fall once more because the Australian 3 Won 6-1 7. -5.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has now received solely one in all his final seven matches on the ATP Tour – a lifeless rubber round-robin stage win over Casper Ruud on the ATP Finals.
the demon does
second @alexdeminaur Recorded his first win over Rafael Nadal. #unitedcup pic.twitter.com/mzaNDvDLdq
– Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 2, 2023
His different losses have come towards Felix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe. Nadal will subsequent play within the first Grand Slam of the season at Melbourne Park from January 16, giving him time to heal.
Spain and Australia weren’t in competition for the subsequent leg of the inaugural $15 million prize cash, barely dulling the sting of their assembly and De Minaur’s quest for a primary win over Nadal appeared set to proceed as She was left behind.
However, the 23-year-old got here again from a set down and broke all the way down to seal the most important win of his profession as Nadal surrendered his serve within the eleventh recreation and De Minaur fired again to spark emotional scenes and cheer raucous Sydney followers. To shut the victory. ,
Earlier, Taylor Fritz beat Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-4, whereas Madison Keys defeated Jule Niemeyer 6-2, 6-3 because the United States took a 2-0 lead over Germany. Which was sufficient for a conflict with Group D winners Britain. within the subsequent spherical.
The winners of every of the 2 teams from three venues – Sydney, Perth and Brisbane – compete in a “city final” on Wednesday to find out who makes the ultimate 4.
The fourth semi-finalist would be the runner-up with one of the best document from their three matches on this competitors.
In Brisbane, Inga Swiatek beat Belinda Bencic 6–3 7–6(3) to wrap up the event as Poland took a 1–0 lead over Switzerland in Group B.
Italy was 2–0 up towards Norway after hard-fought wins in Group E in the identical metropolis, as Martina Trevisan beat Malen Helgo 7–5 3–6 6–4 and Lorenzo Musetti beat Viktor Durasovic 7–1. 6(7) 6- beat. 3. Matteo Berretini performs Rude on Tuesday.
Italy may advance to the subsequent spherical in the event that they win the tie, whereas a loss would see Brazil eradicated.
Stefanos Tsitsipas beat David Goffin 6-3 6-2 as Greece drew 1-1 of their Group A tie towards Belgium in Perth.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
