By Daily Sports on January 9, 2020

World No 1 Rafael Nadal steered Spain into the ATP Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday despite an uncharacteristically error-ridden performance, with Argentina also powering through.

After six days of round robin play at the inaugural team event across Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, eight teams are left standing from the 24 that started.

Australia, Serbia, Russia and Britain booked their spots in the knockout phase on Tuesday, with Spain – who won the revamped Davis Cup in Madrid in November – and Argentina rounding out the six group winners.

Belgium and Canada joined them as the two best-placed runners-up.

All the quarterfinals are in Sydney with Australia facing Britain in the first encounter on Thursday, followed by Argentina against Russia.

Novak Djokovic's Serbia take on Canada on Friday, while Spain are pitted against Belgium.

Nadal saw off the brave challenge of Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, but the 19-time Grand Slam winner made 36 unforced errors.

“It was important the first set, and then in the second I had some tough moments but at the same time I was able to manage well to have a break at the right moment, so happy for the victory,” said Nadal, who is yet to drop a set.

“I played against a player that started the season on fire winning two great matches against two very good opponents and with very comfortable results.” (SuperSport)

•PHOTO: Nadal and Spain team 

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 9, 2020

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