SYDNEY (Reuters) – World quantity two Daniil Medvedev beat Italian Matteo Berrettini within the singles after which returned to the courtroom to clinch the deciding doubles and hearth defending champions Russia into the ATP Cup semi-finals on Thursday.
A depleted Russia got here into the $10 million event with out fifth-ranked Andrey Rublev and world quantity 18 Aslan Karatsev after each examined constructive for COVID-19 within the lead-up to the staff occasion.
In a winner-takes-all remaining Group B tie, Italy took the lead by Jannik Sinner’s 7-6(6) 6-3 win over Roman Safiullin however Medvedev staved off a battle again from world quantity seven and Wimbledon finalist Berrettini to win 6-2 6-7(5) 6-4 and degree the tie.
“The first set I used to be in management and it is tough since you suppose that issues will proceed to go your means however that is not the case once you’re up in opposition to a high 10 participant,” U.S. Open champion Medvedev mentioned.
All 4 gamers returned for the decisive doubles on Ken Rosewall Arena and it was the Russian pair of Medvedev and Safiullin who emerged triumphant, taking a remaining set tremendous tiebreak 7-5 4-6 10-5.
This 12 months’s ATP Cup has featured 16 groups with the 4 group winners continuing to the semi-finals.
Poland will tackle Spain within the first semi-final on Friday and Russia, who beat Italy within the remaining of final 12 months’s occasion, will meet the winners of Group C on Saturday.
Daniel Evans and Jamie Murray rallied to beat Americans Taylor Fritz and John Isner 6-7(3) 7-5 10-8 within the deciding doubles at hand Britain a 2-1 win and hold alive their hopes of profitable that group.
If Germany, led by Alexander Zverev, defeat Canada within the remaining group tie afterward Thursday then Britain will declare the final semi-final spot. A win for Canada will see them by to face the Russians.
Evans had earlier picked up his third straight singles win on the event by taking down large server Isner 6-4 7-6(3). Fritz then compelled the tie into a deciding doubles after beating Briton Cameron Norrie 7-6(4) 3-6 6-1.
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
