Failing to have answered the big question "What is the ATP Cup for? ", Serbia has engraved its name in front of the box "Winner of the first edition", Sunday January 12, taking the best of Spain after the double. Worn by the world number 2 Novak Djokovic, winner in double alongside Viktor Troicki against the pair Carreno Busta-Lopez (6-3, 6-4) after having taken the best on the world number 1, Rafael Nadal, Serbia deprived Spain a double of new competitions, less than two months after its victory in the new Davis Cup formula.
🇷🇸 #TeamSerbia HAVE WON IT !!! 🏆 #ATPCup https://t.co/qCUj4DsS9T
In this competition out of the hat by the ATP (which organizes the men's world circuit) and walking on the flowerbeds of the "Pique Cup" (named after the player of FC Barcelona, whose investment fund Kosmos bought the Davis Cup), the best world players and their national teams (24 in total) competed over ten days to win this title, a substantial bonus (almost 13.5 million euros to be distributed) and points in the world ranking .
Led 1-0 after the defeat in Dusan Lajovic's “number 2” match against Roberto Bautista Agut (7-5, 6-1), Serbia reversed the trend. Without trembling, Novak Djokovic took the best on Nadal (6-2, 7-6), inflicting on the Spaniard his second single loss this week, a few days before the start of the Australian Open (du January 20 to February 2). Having to compete for the double, but " tired " through the series of meetings, Nadal favored the Grand Slam tournament. And precipitated the fall of his own.
Nadal urges to merge ATP Cup and Davis Cup
After his defeat, the world number 1 reiterated his request to merge the ATP Cup and the Davis Cup, demanding that world tennis authorities "Settle" the situation. "The ATP Cup is a superb competition, but playing two World Cups in one month is not sustainable", hammered the Spaniard at a press conference.
If the ATP Cup is organized by ATP, the Davis Cup is managed by the International Tennis Federation (IFT). And the coexistence – competition, even – of these two competitions, causes "Of confusion" for spectators, according to the Majorcan for whom the problem must be resolved "For the good of our sport". And many players, starting with Novak Djokovic this week, have urged to end these duplicates. "There must be a big World Cup, whatever you call it"insisted the Serb, who also chairs the ATP players' council.
Only six weeks after seeing Nadal lift the trophy for the new Davis Cup, Novak Djokovic did not fail, Sunday, to add a title to his record already very provided. While waiting to see if the ATP Cup continues to exist, a title remains a title for the ogre of tennis.
