(Sydney) Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, 19e world player, on Monday defeated the Norwegian Casper Ruud (8e), giving his country its second victory in the ATP team cup.
At 33, Bautista Agut is the best singles player in his country in the absence of world No.1 Rafael Nadal, and he has won in style.
After dismissing the Chilean Cristian Garin (17e) on Saturday in Sydney, he continued his momentum by beating Ruud 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), the first Norwegian to win an ATP title.
“I played very well with very few unforced errors,” said Bautista Agut after the meeting. ” It’s a good start [de saison] and I feel good ”.
Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta (20e) also managed to dismiss the Norwegian Viktor Durasovic (345e) 6-3, 6-3 in just 69 minutes.
Spain’s victory against Norway is already assured even before the doubles match.
Former top 10 star Carreno Busta beat Chilean Alejandro Tabilo on Saturday.
“It’s always important to win the first game. Today I felt more comfortable than the first day, ”said the Spaniard. “We have to find the rhythm, we have to find the confidence”.
Norway have lost their first two games in Group A, which also includes 2020 champions Serbia, and Chile, who play on Monday night.
In the absence of Novak Djokovic, package for the ATP Cup, Dusan Lajovic is the spearhead of the Serbian team and he will face the Chilean Cristian Garin.
The other shock expected Monday night is that between the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman.