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| Atp Cup Final |
ATP CUP - Roberto Bautista qualified Spain for the ATP Cup final on Friday at the expense of Poland. He got the better of Hubert Hurkacz (7-6, 2-6, 7-6) after a superb fight to glean the 2nd point for his country. Earlier in the day, his compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta had no feelings (6-2, 6-1) against the 860th world Jan Zielinski in the first single.
It starts 2022 on the hats of the wheel. Already winner of his three previous matches in the group stage of this ATP Cup, Roberto Bautista Agut offered his second Top 10 of the week in Sydney on Friday in the semi-final against Poland. After Casper Ruud a few days ago, the Spaniard defeated Hubert Hurkacz after a breathless struggle (7-6, 2-6, 7-6) of nearly three hours (2:44 exactly). At the same time, he gleaned the second point for his country, qualifying it for the final in which Spain will challenge either Russia or Canada.
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The duel between the two men was tight from start to finish, like a first set that lasted more than an hour and that Bautista Agut snatched from the tie-break, while he was mistreated 4 points to 1. The Spaniard showed great mental strength as he had seen his opponent make another break from behind earlier in this inaugural round. But he paid for this debauchery of energy in a second act totally to the advantage of an inspired Hurkacz (7-6, 2-6).
CARRENO BUSTA HAD DONE THE WORK AGAINST WORLD 860TH
It must be said that the Pole was also undefeated in this ATP Cup before this semi-final. Offensive, hard-hitting on serve and inspired on the fly, he hit no less than 61 winning shots including 24 aces during this match. But the showdown resumed in the decisive set and Bautista Agut was able to gradually put the pressure on his opponent thanks to his skills as a blocker. If Hurkacz held his serve, even dismissing two first match points at 5-4 against him, he ended up giving up the decisive game. Thanks to a plunging forehand cross passing, the Spaniard seized his 5th opportunity to conclude and was able to rejoice.
Because if Bautista Agut qualified his own, Pablo Carreno Busta had launched them well. It was a formality on paper, and he confirmed it on the court. The 20th player in the world, made short work of the 860th ATP Jan Zielinski to which he left three small games (6-2, 6-1) in 54 minutes. He took advantage of the opportunity presented to him when a more complicated challenge should have awaited him against Kamil Majchrzak, 117th in the world. The latter was in good shape and had won his first three singles in the competition, but had to give up a line-up due to testing positive for covid-19.
For Zielinski, who had not played a single match on the circuit before this Friday, the march was (much) too high. The Pole did not get the slightest break point, but managed to avoid the 6-0 that loomed dangerously in the second set. He also began to unleash a few winning shots at the end of the match that the public did not fail to salute.
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