THREE of the top four seeds managed to grab an early advantage in the ATP Cup that got underway yesterday, with only Italy’s victory over Austria the exception. In other results, reigning champions Serbia knocked off a determined Canada, Spain clean swept Australia, and Russia took care of Argentina.

SERBIA 2 defeated CANADA 1

Novak Djokovic and a fresh Filip Krajinovic led the top seeded Serbia to a win over Canada in what was a nail-biting event. The world number one – who overcame injury concerns with blisters earlier in the week – managed to defeat young gun Denis Shapovalov 7-5 7-5. As was expected, big serving Milos Raonic returned the favour with a 6-3 6-4 triumph over Dusan Lajovic to tie up the singles.

It all came down to the doubles, with Djokovic returning to the court, this time pairing with training partner and Top 30 player Krajinovic. They teamed up against Raonic and Shapovalov who chose to play the doubles over their lower ranked teammates, pushing the Serbians all the way. In the end though, the top ranked team got through with a 7-5 7-6 victory to win the opening match of the day.

Novak Djokovic (SRB) defeated Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 7-5 7-5
Milos Raonic (CAN) defeated Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 6-3 6-4
N. Djokovic / F. Krajinovic (SRB) defeated M. Raonic / D. Shapovalov (CAN) 7-5 7-6

ITALY 2 defeated AUSTRIA 1

It was a Jeckyll and Hyde performance from Italy in what was more expected than surprising considering the talent, but inconsistency within their Top 20 players. Fabio Fognini was red-hot favourite to topple world number 100 Dennis Novak, the second lowest ranked singles player in the tournament. Unfortunately the firebrand’s inconsistency came back to haunt him and Novak put in a stunning performance to level the tie at 6-3 6-2. Italy got back on track when Matteo Berrettini stunned US Open winner Dominic Thiem in straight sets, 6-2 6-4.

All four players returned to the court for the doubles, with Berrettini again being the key player. The up-and-comer teamed up with Fognini to easily win the first set against Thiem and Novak, before pushing through to claim victory in straight sets. 6-1 6-4.

Matteo Berrettini (ITA) defeated Dominic Thiem (AUT) 6-2 6-4
Dennis Novak (AUT) defeated Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-3 6-4
M. Berrettini / F. Fognini (ITA) defeated D. Thiem / D. Novak (AUT) 6-1 6-4

SPAIN 3 defeated AUSTRALIA 0

In the only clean sweep of the day, Spain swept Australia despite the late injury withdrawal of world number two, Rafael Nadal. The tournament favourites flexed their muscles in the matchup, as despite losing Nadal, still went on to beat a couple of Top 40 players in Alex de Minaur and John Millman. Pablo Carreno Busta took care of Millman in the opening match 6-2 6-4, before Roberto Bautista Agut fought back from a set down against de Minaur – who has won their only two head-to-head matches – to claim victory, 4-6 6-4 6-4.

With the tie decided, Carreno Busta returned to the court to partner with Marcel Granollers up against Australian specialist doubles pairing John Peers and Luke Saville. Nothing went right for the Australians in the tie though, as the Spanish won in straight sets 6-4 7-5 to cruise through and put themselves in control to advance through to the semis.

Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) defeated Alex de Minaur (AUS) 4-6 6-4 6-4
Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) defeated John Millman (AUS) 6-2 6-4
P. Carreno Busta / M. Granollers (ESP) defeated J. Peers / L. Saville (AUS) 6-4 7-5

RUSSIA 2 defeated ARGENTINA 1

Also securing the tie after the singles matches was Russia, who with two Top 10 talents had the most damaging combination of Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev. Medvedev won in straight sets, 7-5 6-3 over Diego Schwartzman in a tight encounter, though the match before it was a blowout as Rublev made light work of Schwartzman’s teammate, Guido Pella, 6-1 6-2.

As Argentina had the specialist doubles combination and one of the best in the world in Maximo Gonzalez and Horacio Zeballos, they managed to grab an important point back by defeating Rublev and Aslan Karatsev in the third match, winning 6-4 7-6. It mattered little as Russia grabbed the win 2-1, but gave Argentina a glimmer of hope, though the South American nation would need Japan to stun Russia for a chance of making it through to the semis.

Daniil Medvedev (RUS) defeated Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 7-5 6-3
Andrey Rublev (RUS) defeated Guido Pella (ARG) 6-1 6-2
M. Gonzalez / H. Zeballos (ARG) defeated A. Karatsev / A. Rublev (RUS) 6-4 7-6