ATP Cup: Error-strewn Nadal made to work hard as Spain qualify for quarters

ATP Cup: Error-strewn Nadal made to work hard as Spain qualify for quarters

Nadal had to twice recover a break deficit in the first set, before overcoming Yoshihito Nishioka 7-6 (4), 6-4 in a tremendous battle which lasted for two hours and eight minutes.

FPJ Web DeskUpdated: Wednesday, January 08, 2020, 03:48 PM IST
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Rafael Nadal | Photo: Twitter/José Morgado

Perth: World No. 1 Rafael Nadal on Wednesday secured Spain's spot in the quarter-finals as Group B winners at the ongoing ATP Cup, but he was made to work extremely hard for the tie victory against Team Japan.

Nadal had to twice recover a break deficit in the first set, before overcoming Yoshihito Nishioka 7-6 (4), 6-4 in a tremendous battle which lasted for two hours and eight minutes.

Earlier in the day, World No. 9 Roberto Bautista Agut also extended his winning start to the 2020 ATP Tour season with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Go Soeda in the first singles rubber.

Nadal, Bautista Agut, Pablo Carreno Busta, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Feliciano Lopez and captain Francisco Roig will now travel to Sydney, where Spain will prepare to play a tie during Friday's night session.

Japan, with a 2-1 ties record in Group B, must now win the doubles match in order to remain in contention for the final eight as one of the best second-placed teams.

Japan had beaten Georgia and Uruguay in its two previous Group B ties.

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