ATP Cup 2020: Thursday tennis scores, results and updated schedule | Launderer’s report
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Hosts Australia became the first team to qualify for the 2020 ATP Cup semi-finals, beating Great Britain in an epic encounter on Thursday.
Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur beat Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury in a long super tie-break, winning 18-16 in the final set. Kyrgios gave the Australians the lead with a win over Cameron Norrie in the opener, but Dan Evans forced the doubles match with a win over De Minaur.
Russia beat Argentina in the quarter-finals with Karen Khachanov and Daniil Medvedev winning their singles matches.
Friday’s final quarter-finals will pit Serbia against Canada and Spain against Belgium.
Here are Thursday’s full results:
Australia 2-1 Great Britain
Nick Kyrgios bt. Cameron Norrie: 6-2, 6-2
Dan Evans bt. Alex de Minaur: 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (2)
Nick Kyrgios/Alex de Minaur bt. Jamie Murray/Joe Salisbury: 3-6, 6-3, 18-16
Russia 3-0 Argentina
Karen Khachanov bt. Guido Pella: 6-2, 7-6 (4)
Daniil Medvedev bt. Diego Schwartzman: 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Teymuraz Gabashvili/Konstantin Kravchuk bt. Maximo Gonzalez/Andres Molteni: 7-6 (5), 6-4
Kyrgios was the hosts’ hero on Thursday, claiming a singles win in the opener before using all his experience to keep partner De Minaur calm in an epic doubles encounter.
The 24-year-old showed remarkable maturity after the win:
He lost just four games in the game against Norrie, using his formidable defensive abilities and power from the baseline to blast winner after winner.
Despite his best efforts, the Brit barely managed against the Australian star in Sydney:
The second rubber was much closer, pitting rising star De Minaur against Evans. The two needed over three hours and 20 minutes to wrap up their encounter, with the more experienced Evans taking the tiebreaker to force the deciding double.
The 29-year-old produced this stunning lob in the win:
The hosts named Kyrgios and From Minaur over the duo of Chris Guccione and John Peers to play doubles, and the decision seemed to backfire initially. Murray and Salisbury comfortably won the first set with excellent return play and overall dominance at net.
Australia started to build steam in the second set, stalling things and forcing a decider, but Great Britain took control early and were on the verge of being upset for most of the break. equality.
The Brits lost four match points before Australia closed the deal:
The day’s other quarter-final was not as close, with Khachanov and Medvedev holding off Pella and Schwartzman in singles.
Khachanov only needed two sets in the opener, dominating Pella with his raw power in the opening set and closing the deal in a more competitive second.
Tennis writer Jose Morgado liked what he saw of the talent:
Medvedev looked set for an even easier win in the first set against Schwartzman, but the 27-year-old bounced back in the second, forcing a decider.
Medvedev found the break of serve in Game 8 to book Russia’s place in the semi-finals:
The Russians completed their sweep in doubles.
Russia will face the winner of the draw between Serbia and Canada. Australia will face either Belgium or Spain in the other semi-final.
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