Italy impresses after Day 1 of the 2021 ATP Cup

Matteo Berrettini (Google Images)

The results from the first day of the 2021 ATP Cup are in the books, and Team Italy made tennis headlines with an interesting 2-1 win over Team Austria in Group C action. The ATP Cup from Melbourne could be considered the most significant tennis tournament leading up to the 2021 Australian Open.

The most impressive Italian was the 10th ranked player in the world, Matteo Berrettini of Rome. Berrettini not only beat the higher-ranked Austrian, Dominic Thiem, 6-2, 6-4 in straight sets quite handily, but then teamed up with Fabio Fognini, to beat Thiem and Austrian Dennis Novak, 6-1, 6-4.  Berrettini’s wins came after Novak beat Fognini in singles play, 6-3, 6-2.

Berrettini was one of two tennis players to win two matches on Tuesday. The others were Novak Djokovic of Serbia, and Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain. Djokovic beat Denis Shapovalov of Canada in men’s singles 7-5, 7-5, and then teamed up with Filip Krajinovic in men’s doubles and beat Shapovalov and Milos Raonic 7-5, 7-6. Serbia beat Canada 2-1.

Carreno Busta meanwhile beat John Millman of Australia 6-2, 6-4, and then teamed up with Marcel Granollers in men’s doubles to beat John Peers and Luke Saville of Australia 6-4, 7-5. It was a tough day for the Aussies, as they lost all three of their matches. Alex de Minaur lost to Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Russia meanwhile has a 2-1 lead over Argentina in Group D action. Russia got both of their wins in singles action. Andrey Rublev beat Guido Pella 6-1, 6-2, while Daniil Medvedev beat Diego Schwartzman 7-5, 6-3.

Russia is going to be tough to beat this week. They are the only nation with two players ranked in the top 10. Medvedev is fourth and Rublev is eighth.

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