ATP Cup: South Africa out
By Guillaume Mahot
The first edition of the ATP Cup will not be that remembered for South African tennis, despite a final second place acquired in the A group before France and Chili. The nation of the Protea Flower failed to qualify for the quarter finals of the tennis tournament this week and let Serbia lead the debates. And yet, the South Africans had won against Chili (3-0) and lately France (2-1). Their opening defeat facing up to the Serbians (0-3) was eventually redhibitory.
Without Gaël Monfils, the French were defeated and ended up at a disappointing third place in the A group, losing the opportunity to see the quarter finals as well. South Africa is perhaps more upset than France because what was shown by Kevin Anderson and Lloyd Harris, particularly against Chili, was bringing hope for the rest of the tournament. Anderson, best South African tennis player right now but ranking 91st at the ATP ranking due to an injury that kept him away from the courts for a while, was only playing his second game (against Chilean Cristian Garin) since Wimbledon in 2019 (last summer). Apparently fit and back for the new year and the new perspectives, he won the game without any discussion (6-0, 6-3).
But no quarter finals then, unlike Argentina, Russia, Serbia, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Belgium and Spain. Taking place in Sydney, Australia, the final of the 2020 ATP Cup will oppose Spain of Rafael Nadal to Serbia of Novak Djokovic on next Sunday. The Spaniards defeated the Australians in semifinals this Saturday with an ultimate victory of Nadal (4-6, 7-5, 6-1 against Alex De Minaur). In the meantime, Serbia was beating up Russia thanks to Djokovic (6-1, 5-7, 6-4 against Daniil Medvedev). The Sunday struggle between the current best tennis players in the world, respectively first and second at the ATP ranking, is promising a lot.
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