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A22 sports
Monday 13 January 2020
Djokovic leads Serbia to win over Spain in ATP Cup final

By JOHN PYE the opening game, which
AP Sports Writer lasted eight minutes and
SYDNEY (AP) — Novak included two requests from
Djokovic beat Rafael Nad- the umpire to the crowd to
al, again, in a must-win keep quiet during the ser-
match to keep Serbia in vice motion.
contention. Then he went Djokovic held for a 2-0 lead,
back on court within an the game going to deuce,
hour and combined with and then didn't concede a
long-time friend Viktor point on serve for his next
Troicki to clinch the very three games, closing the
first ATP Cup. In the coun- set in 39 minutes with three
try where the seven-time straight aces.
Australian Open champion Nadal got over his frustra-
performs like it's his home tion with the noisy crowd
away from home, Djokovic and found his range in the
was the dominant figure in second set, conceding just
the debut of the 24-team, a point in each of his first
10-day tournament. three service games. He
"I have never experienced had also had a huge op-
such a support in my portunity to go up a break
matches ever anywhere, in the sixth game, but was
and I have played the big- unable to convert five
gest stadiums in tennis, and Serbia players hold up the ATP CUP after defeating Spain during their ATP Cup tennis tournament chances as Djokovic rallied
this was something differ- in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. Associated Press from 0-40 to hold.
ent," Djokovic said, credit- Djokovic then had two
ing the thousands of Serbs life — it's one of the nicest in his teammate Lopez, a change my mind that two breakpoints in the 11th
who chanted, sang and moments of my career," four-time Davis Cup cham- World Cups in one month game, which would have
recreated the atmosphere Djokovic said. "I've been pion. is not real," he said. "So we given him the chance to
of a football stadium. "I very fortunately blessed, "I have been playing a lot need to find a way to fix it serve for the match, but
want to thank everybody had an amazing career of tennis the last couple of and we need to find a way Nadal rallied from 15-40 to
for contributing to this vic- over the last 15 years, but days. My level of energy is to make a big deal with ITF hold. Djokovic had a nervy
tory on and off the court." playing for a team, playing a little bit lower than usual," and ATP to create a big start to the tiebreaker, serv-
Second-ranked Djokivic for a country with some of Nadal said. "So is a team World Team Cup competi- ing a double-fault to fall
had a 6-2, 7-6 (4) win over my best friends is just — you decision, and we believe tion." behind 2-1, but after his
No. 1 Nadal on Sunday can't match that. It's too in our team. That's why we Spain's early lead put extra forehand clipped the net
night to level the final after special." had success in the past." pressure on Djokovic. He and landed in, he started
Roberto Bautista Agut had He said the support from After playing six singles hadn't lost a singles match to gain control. From 4-4,
given Spain the lead by the Serbian community in matches and two doubles at the tournament — a run he won every point, start-
beating Dusan Lajovic 7-5, Sydney was "off the charts." matches in 10 days — on that includes wins over U.S. ing the roll with a back-
6-1 in the first singles match. "There's a lot of Serbian both the west and east Open finalists Daniil Med- hand winner down the line.
After extending his lead to people in Sydney," Djokovic coasts of Australia — less vedev and Kevin Anderson The 10,223-strong crowd at
29-26 in career head-to- said. "If you want to make a than two months after as well as Gael Monfils and Ken Rosewall Arena was
heads with Nadal, and his celebration, we're ready." guiding Spain to the Davis Denis Shapovalov, and packed with Serbia sup-
supremacy over the Span- Djokovic has won nine Cup title in Madrid, Nadal started like losing wasn't a porters who waved their
iard on hardcourts, Djokov- straight against Nadal on urged the International consideration. flags and chanted "Ser-
ic combined with Troicki for hardcourts, and 19 con- Tennis Federation and the "I started off the match bia, Serbia, Serbia," and
a 6-3, 6-4 win over Pablo secutive sets, since losing ATP to negotiate to form perfectly, really. Everything Djokovic's nickname "Nole"
Carreno Busta and Felicia- the 2013 U.S. Open final. one world team champi- worked for me," he said. throughout the final.
no Lopez to clinch the title. Nadal withdrew from the onship. "Serve got me out of trou- A little after 1 a.m. local time
"I'll remember this experi- doubles, citing fatigue, "I think (ATP Cup) is a great ble in the second set." Monday, they were cheer-
ence for the rest of my saying he had confidence competition but ... I can't He broke Nadal's serve in ing for their champions.q
Serena Williams

Continued from Page 18 went on to claim her 73rd typical determination to
win in 98 finals and to add fight her way to the final
U.S. President Donald Trump her name to a trophy won and overcome Pegula,
tweeted: "Congratulations by her sister, Venus, in 2015. who ousted former top-
to @serenawilliams on an- The last three years have ranked Caroline Wozniacki
other big win. She is a great been challenging for Wil- in the semifinals.
player and an even greater liams as she juggled com- Pegula has been on a
person. Our members in Vir- peting demands of tennis steady climb up the rank-
ginia (Tennis) will never for- and motherhood. But she ings since overcoming a se-
get you!" Williams was with seemed to turn a corner rious knee injury two years
Trump at the 2015 opening during a demanding week ago. The daughter of Buf-
of the Trump Tennis Center. in which she played both falo Bills owners Terry and
Williams was under pressure doubles and singles, turn- Kim Pegula, she won her
at first against the 25-year- ing out on all seven days of first WTA title in 2019 and
United States Serena Williams with the ASB Trophy after winning
finals singles match against United States Jessica Pegula at the old Pegula, playing in her the tournament. appeared to be a star on
ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. third WTA final, but asserted She was frequently behind the rise in all her matches in
Associated Press herself more as the match in her matches but showed Auckland. q