And with that, we’ll wrap it up for the night. It’s 11:15pm local time. Thanks for your company throughout the day. Focus now shifts to Sunday’s final between the two powerhouses Spain and Serbia. Until next time.
It’s been a decent showing from Australia though, not just tonight, but throughout this tournament. Disappointment today after those defeats for Kyrgios and de Minaur, but nevertheless a successful campaign. Here’s Rafa:
“I have been playing at very high level. For me, energy levels have been a bit low. Yesterday was heavy conditions.”
To the crowd: “It’s been a pleasure playing in front of you guys. This is a country which has a big respect for the sport, so a big thank you.”
On tomorrow’s final against Serbia and his old foe Novak Djokovic: “It’s going to be a tough battle.”
So, Nadal steps up when needed and Spain will contest the inaugural ATP Cup final against Serbia, leaving the home crowd in Sydney disappointed. A terrific final set from the world No 1, who buckled down as de Minaur tired.
Nadal beats de Minaur 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 (Spain 2-1 Australia)
Third set: de Minaur 6-4, 5-7, 1-6 Nadal* (*denotes server): De Minaur bamboozles Nadal with a couple of half-volley forehands to open, but he has a lapse in concentration following a lengthy second point and sends a ball out. Nadal wobbles before steadying the Spanish ship and at 30-30, after de Minaur finds the net again, he has match point. De Minaur is long on his return of serve and Spain are through!
Updated
Third set: de Minaur* 6-4, 5-7, 1-5 Nadal (*denotes server): Nadal’s power is there for all to see – forehand, backhand, both are put to devastating use this game. In between de Minaur takes inspiration from the Spaniard’s ending to the last game and double faults. Lletyon Hewitt looks pensive on the sidelines. Rightly so, as Nadal breaks again, and he will now serve for the match.
Third set: de Minaur 6-4, 5-7, 1-4 Nadal* (*denotes server): De Minaur’s not willing to lie down just yet! He moves to 30-0 up on Nadal’s serve, albeit thanks to a net cord on the second point, for which he holds up his hands up in what Jim Courier earlier, and correctly, called a “fauxpology”. Nadal shows typical fight to pull level at 30-30 but an error then gifts Australia a potentially crucial break point! And would you believe it? Nadal double faults to open the door to de Minaur!
Third set: de Minaur* 6-4, 5-7, 0-4 Nadal (*denotes server): For a moment De Minaur looks tense in his shotmaking. He finds the net with what should be a regulation backhand to kick off this fourth game, then his radar is off again to hand Nadal a 30-0 lead. Much better from the Australian to pull a point back as he advances to the net and puts the ball away on the next point, but another unforced error then follows. He saves the first break point with an ace but can’t topple Nadal in what is possibly the best point of the night, an attempted drop shot ultimately falling into the net after a thrilling 19-shot rally! Classic Nadal! Spain move to within two games of the match, and the tie.
Third set: de Minaur 6-4, 5-7, 0-3 Nadal* (*denotes server): Nadal is hitting the ball beautifully now; everything is coming right out of the middle of his racket. He races into a 40-0 lead, with De Minaur unable to find a response, before wrapping things up when the Australian goes wide. A three-game advantage to Spain now, and de Minaur will need something really quite special now if he is to get back into this set.
Third set: de Minaur* 6-4, 5-7, 0-2 Nadal (*denotes server): Oof, Nadal creams a crosscourt backhand winner back past the advancing de Minaur on the first point. The Australian challenges a call on the next point, alas to no avail, and then hits the net on the next. De Minaur finds himself in a hole at 0-40 down. And that hole gobbles him up when he is way long on the first of Nadal’s break points. “Team Spain” are in the ascendency here.
Updated
Third set: de Minaur 6-4, 5-7, 0-1 Nadal* (*denotes server): Thanks Jonathan, superb shift. What a time to take over the blog. Nadal kicks off the third set with the ball in hand, knowing the momentum is with him and Spain at this point in time. Can he capitalise? Some big serving from the Spaniard sees him secure the first game. A big game for de Minaur coming up now...
Updated
Second set: de Minaur* 6-4 5-7 Nadal (*denotes server): Nadal has a glimmer at 0-15 but returns wildly to allow de Minaur control. It’s ceded again by the Australia with an error, but Nadal keeps the gifts moving like a game of pass the parcel. The rally at 30-30 begins conservative but grows in intensity and significance every shot, Nadal grinding his way into the ascendancy, eventually forcing an error. Nadal’s first break point of the night is a set point! And he gets it! A rally full of shanks and mishits somehow ends the Spaniard’s way. He’s had to scrap for his life to just to remain alive in this match, and he’s taken it to a third set. What a fighter. Can de Minaur continue to back himself?
Find out with Mike Hytner.
Updated
Look at the Demon. Listen to the crowd. 😅@alexdeminaur | #ATPCuppic.twitter.com/8g8xDHVUHE
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 11, 2020
Second set: de Minaur 6-4 5-6 Nadal* (*denotes server): Nadal eases to 30-0 but a double fault provokes that edgy reaction from a crowd on the edge of its seat, the stifled applause trying not to be disrespectful to an error but simultaneously egg on their man. There’s no holding back a few shots later when de Minaur wrestles control of a brutal rally before a net cord drops his way for 30-30. Could this finally be the decisive moment? Not yet; Nadal rips a rare backhand power drive crosscourt, a shot he’s failed to execute so often tonight. But then he goes wide on the forehand for deuce.
“Keep backing yourself mate!” bellows Hewitt from the corner with hands cupped to his mouth. His charge does, but he returns long at deuce then overshoots the proceeding rally to lose his grip on the possible break.
Second set: de Minaur* 6-4 5-5 Nadal (*denotes server): There’s just the merest hint of de Minaur dropping his intensity out there, but it hardly matters because Nadal is so off his game. Three errors give Australia breathing room and a fourth has both men reaching for the towels. Can the veteran dig himself out of this hole?
Second set: de Minaur 6-4 4-5 Nadal* (*denotes server): Both men have gone largely untroubled on serve this set, and Nadal again holds to love. He’s battling, but he’s clinging on. Now de Minaur has to serve to stay in the set.
Serving up his best tennis yet against the world No.1?
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) January 11, 2020
Leading by a set and at 4-4 in the second, De Minaur is yet to face a break point against Rafael Nadal. #ATPCup pic.twitter.com/BG367y4kWr
Second set: de Minaur* 6-4 4-4 Nadal (*denotes server): De Minaur isn’t just staying with Nadal when rallies form, he’s dictating terms, playing with such intensity he invites the error. 15-0 is hard work, 30-0 swifter, then 40-0 arrives after a superb rally in which Nadal looked the only possible victor but de Minaur is in some dreamlike state, reaching the net to hammer a winner to the delight of the crowd past a stunned Nadal. Another easy hold.
Second set: de Minaur 6-4 3-4 Nadal* (*denotes server): Nadal has first use of the new balls and he races to 40-0. Jim Courier on TV comments how noticeable the impact of the new Dunlop balls have been this week, compared to regular events. De Minaur steals a point but Nadal closes out the game in quick time.
Second set: de Minaur* 6-4 3-3 Nadal (*denotes server): Australia hold swiftly in a game that again allows de Minaur to find a winner that would ordinarily be a match highlight, but his line drive wrong-footing Nadal was simply just another regular point in this performance of career-defining quality.
Second set: de Minaur 6-4 2-3 Nadal* (*denotes server): Another backhand error from Nadal levels the scores at 15-all, then the first double fault of the match opens the door for de Minaur. He can’t force his way through though as Nadal finds his range off the tee to move to 40-30, then survives a testing rally that de Minaur throws the kitchen sink at.
Still on serve in this second set but de Minaur remains neck deep in Plan A, which is attack, followed by attack, with the occasional attack thrown in for variety. No sign of fatigue, stage-fright, or second guessing himself.
Second set: de Minaur* 6-4 2-2 Nadal (*denotes server): De Minaur races to 40-0 but Nadal digs in and shows his rival he’s still got enough pep in his forehand when he wants to to claw a point back. Not that it matters, another rally ends with a comet streaking from the Australian’s backhand across the court and away for the winner.
Second set: de Minaur 6-4 1-2 Nadal* (*denotes server): Nadal grinds out a hold to 15. He looks like a heavyweight rinsed after a long session on the heavy bag while the whipper snapper on the other side of the net is happily jumping rope ready for the next bell.
Updated
Second set: de Minaur* 6-4 1-1 Nadal (*denotes server): Just once in my life I would love to feel what de Minaur is experiencing right now. He is in pure flow. The Australian is anticipating every shot from Nadal and returning it with interest. His racquet is the extension of his arm which is channeling a tsunami of adrenaline. The Spain bench is in disbelief. Winner after winner after breathtaking winner. De Minaur holds to love with some astonishing tennis. You can hear the shrieks of awe in the crowd. It is Nadal against vintage Nadal in mirror image. What a performance.
Second set: de Minaur 6-4 0-1 Nadal* (*denotes server): The psychology on display is fascinating. Nadal is inscrutable, as usual, but something is not quite right, be it fatigue, injury or technique. De Minaur has the stare of a man who went to a rave in a field in Hampshire in 1989 and is having the time of his ruddy life. The scoreboard reads 40-30 but the narrative is all about those two de Minaur points, brimful of purpose, the latter finished with a skimming backhand slice of extravagant bravery, the product of him climbing into a Nadal second serve once again miles inside the baseline. All that said, Nadal clings on to hold.
DEMON POSSESSED 😈
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 11, 2020
🇦🇺 @alexdeminaur leads Nadal 6-4! #ATPCup pic.twitter.com/ovEvc3Nh8i
Updated
Between sets, here’s a chance to catch up on that news from earlier than Bianca Andreescu will not feature at the Australian Open.
First set: de Minaur* 6-4 Nadal (*denotes server): Nadal is now noticeably running long arcs to convert backhands into forehands but in doing so he sends one into the net then another long. With each, belief grows in de Minaur, and he has the freedom of Sydney when he drills a forehand down the line as clean and heavy as a Jimmy Page riff. Three set points, but he only needs one. The demon is giving Nadal nightmares. Advantage Australia.
First set: de Minaur 5-4 Nadal* (*denotes server): Nadal cruises to 40-0 - that’s 15-points in a row on serve - but the run is broken by another shonky backhand. He should see the game out, but again on the backhand side, he can’t put away a delicate volley at the net then an overhead, and suddenly the crowd is back involved at 40-30. De Minaur is now flying, pressuring Nadal from the baseline, forcing him so deep the camera angle has had to be widened to accommodate the depths Nadal is going to.
From nowhere Nadal is serving at deuce, and he goes long with yet another backhand! The crowd is as loud as it has been all week, roaring its approval. De Minaur allows some air to escape, netting set point, and then Nadal steps on the afterburners with two big barely-returnable serves.
De Minaur to serve for the set.
At the Australian Open last year, De Minaur tried to out-rally Nadal. Every point was a massive struggle to win. He lost 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) January 11, 2020
Feels like a different approach tonight. Shortening points, firing winners. He’s also the most pumped man in the world right now. #ATPCup
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First set: de Minaur* 5-3 Nadal (*denotes server): For the first time tonight de Minaur doesn’t race away early in his service game. He has chances to win the opening two points but dumps sharp volleys into the net with winners at his mercy. He fights hard to earn 15-30 then 30-30, the latter point courtesy of what is an increasingly prominent problem Nadal is having on his backhand. It would be perverse to call it the yips, but for a man of his calibre it is alarming how off his timing is. Another backhand goes long for 40-30 and de Minaur now has a very clear plan of attack, working the weak backhand side before hammering safely into the open court for the hold. Questions for Nadal to answer, and technical ones, not just matchplay.
First set: de Minaur 4-3 Nadal* (*denotes server): Nadal, now with sweat cascading off his nose like water down a log flume, skips through a second routine hold in a row.
First set: de Minaur* 4-2 Nadal (*denotes server): “Live by the sword, die by the sword,” says Tim Henman on commentary about de Minaur’s strategy. The Australian has been ferocious so far, going for every opening, and nailing most of them. He streaks to 40-0 without breaking sweat but Nadal reminds him of his class with a forehand that moves through the air like a Roberto Carlos free-kick and a backhand drilled past his opponent’s toes. At 30-40 what feels like would could be a pivotal rally begins to unfold, players shifting one side then the other before de Minaur hits long. 40-0 to deuce - is this Nadal’s opportunity?
No. A backhand finds the net then de Minaur crunches a forehand winner for a gritty hold.
First set: de Minaur 3-2 Nadal* (*denotes server): Routine hold for the king of Roland Garros.
First set: de Minaur* 3-1 Nadal (*denotes server): De Minaur is playing loose and nimbly, hitting fluidly on both wings with superb timing. And he is crushing the ball. 15, 30, 40-love all arrive with sumptuous strokes, massive forehands cross court, passes fizzing with topspin, and the crowd is raucous. Nadal doesn’t lose hope though, despite the blitzkrieg coming his way and he stays alive to 40-30 until a de Minaur ace ices the game.
OH MY, @alexdeminaur 🤯
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 11, 2020
What a shot from the Aussie!#ATPCup pic.twitter.com/Gk4ACgL4MA
Updated
First set: de Minaur 2-1 Nadal* (*denotes server): Woof! De Minaur climbs all over Nadal’s second serve, smashing it with both feet off the ground miles inside the baseline, and he follows that up with a blistering inside-out forehand down the line to go up 0-30. Nadal responds with trademark intensity, winning four points in a row with steadily increasing force to get on the scoreboard. There was something ominous in watching the Spaniard go through the gears so quickly, like Concorde idling on the runway then busting through the speed of sound with power and grace.
First set: de Minaur* 2-0 Nadal (*denotes server): Both men trade forehand winners down the line to show that this could be a high-quality duel, but Nadal then drops his guard again, struggling with his returns and hitting wide without facing pressure. De Minaur can’t capitalise, dumping game point into the net.
The Australian doesn’t let it get to him, rattling a 151kph forehand winner then testing Nadal on both flanks until he provokes a mistake. The demon defends his early break.
First set: de Minaur 1-0 Nadal* (*denotes server): It doesn’t take long for the demon to state his intentions, crafting a point in the manner of David Goffin in his upset over Nadal, picking his time to attack, and attacking hard, turning two baseline rallies to his advantage and shifting 15-0 to 15-30. An early unforced error then hands Australia two break points! And a second unforced error gift-wraps it for them. What a start! Nadal broken in his opening game, de Minaur buzzing around the court like Billy Whizz, and the crowd on its feet.
Running to a 1-0 lead 🏃♂️@alexdeminaur gives 🇦🇺 #TeamAustralia the perfect start, breaking Rafael Nadal in the opening game.#ATPCup | #AUSESP pic.twitter.com/CiLaoko1xp
— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 11, 2020
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Nadal to serve, game on...
✌️ 🤣@alexdeminaur | @RafaelNadal | #ATPCup pic.twitter.com/5rkYMQ6dZR
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 11, 2020
Love the coin toss kid, rocking the Rambo look with the Osaka peace sign. Good areas.
The players are out, warming up, and we’ll be underway shortly in what could turn into the biggest night of de Minaur’s career; or just another day at the office for Nadal.
If the opening match was hard to call before it got underway, there’s no doubting the second rubber looks lopsided on paper. World number one, 19-time grand slam champion, and recent Davis Cup Finals winner Rafael Nadal, against 20-year old world number 18 Alex de Minaur.
They’ve met twice before, Nadal winning both in straight sets, most recently at last year’s Australian Open.
A Spanish flamenco warmup 🕺😉#ATPCup | #AUSESP | @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/1ihZqNwFv9
— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 11, 2020
Same, before I have a night on the tiles.
No worries Australia, Alex de Minaur only has *checks notes* Rafael Nadal to beat to keep Australia afloat.
Roberto Bautista Agut beats Nick Kyrgios 6-1 6-4 (Spain 1-0 Australia)
The lazy narrative (that I’m sure we’ll seen soon enough) would be all about Nick Kyrgios choking, smashing his racquet or failing to live up to the hype, but he was simply outplayed by a superb top-ten opponent whose discipline, patience, and defensive brilliance controlled the match as soon as it began. Vamos Roberto Bautista Agut.
Second set: Kyrgios 1-6 4-6 Bautista Agut* (*denotes server): A nervous hum shakes around Ken Rosewall Arena when RBA makes a rare unforced error to gift Kyrgios 0-15. The Spaniard is soon back on his own terms through, ascending to 30-15 with a superb forehand winner down the line. That becomes 40-15 following his latest demonstration of defensive excellence, meaning two match points. He only needs one. Roberto Bautista Agut wins in straight sets.
Super solid performance from @BautistaAgut!
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 11, 2020
🇪🇸 #TeamSpain have the lead after his 6-1 6-4 victory over Kyrgios! #ATPCup pic.twitter.com/H2VShTTF7x
Updated
Second set: Kyrgios* 1-6 4-5 Bautista Agut (*denotes server): For the umpteenth time tonight Kyrgios is 0-30 down on his normally dominant serve, that soon becomes 15-40 and Bautista Agut has two match points. Not for long, Kyrgios kabooms consecutive aces to take the game to deuce. Make that a hat-trick! But RBA remains impassive and whips a forehand down the line with masses of side-spin that swings into the corner to return us to deuce.
Another big serve gives Kyrgios another game point but this time he slaps a forehand into the gutter with the game begging. He makes no mistake at the third time of asking, but Bautista Agut still has the match on his racquet.
Second set: Kyrgios 1-6 3-5 Bautista Agut* (*denotes server): RBA eases to another game by applying his tried and trusted method of inviting Kyrgios to hit tennis balls across the net until one misses the court. Get this - Bautista Agut has made only 5 (five) unforced errors all match; two in the first set, three in this. Superb tennis from the Spaniard. Kyrgios now serving to stay in it.
Meanwhile, US Open champion, and one of the pre-tournament favourites, Bianca Andreescu, has just pulled out of the Australian Open.
Open is unfortunately too soon in my rehab process and I sadly will not be able to play in it this year. It was a very tough decision to make as I love to play in Melbourne but I have to respect the recuperation plan for my knee and body. I can’t wait to come back to Aus soon x
— Bianca (@Bandreescu_) January 11, 2020
Second set: Kyrgios* 1-6 3-4 Bautista Agut (*denotes server): Kyrgios is again faced with 30-30 on his own serve after cruising through the tournament off his own racquet. A rasping ace - his eighth, to RBA’s four - hands him game point, then a second obliterates any lingering tension.
Second set: Kyrgios 1-6 2-4 Bautista Agut* (*denotes server): Racquet smashing has been a feature of this event and Kyrgios’s latest indiscretion you have to put as much down to the infuriation he must be feeling playing an opponent so relentless - and calm with it. For a firebrand like Kyrgios it must seem so alien.
The Australian starts the following game well, and he’s deep into his work at 30-30, forcing RBA to run miles to keep in touch, but the Spaniard holds firm. Kyrgios does force deuce next point though but again wastes a golden opportunity, dumping a backhand volley into the net after attacking ferociously to force his man a half-step off his game. The same tactic pays dividends next time, earning a second deuce, and the crowd responds. For perhaps the second time tonight there’s a glimmer of some form and energy coming from Kyrgios, and he converts it into an advantage after an unusually unrythmical rally. But he can’t convert, despite diving full length (and taking some skin off his elbow) to reach a drop shot.
Now the longest game of the match, Bautista Agut is under rare pressure, but he releases it all with a serve right down the centre line, then orchestrating a trademark rally until Kyrgios falters. Massive, massive hold for Spain.
Updated
Second set: Kyrgios* 1-6 2-3 Bautista Agut (*denotes server): Nobody could possibly read Kyrgios’s serve better than Bautista Agut is doing tonight. He’s all over the Australian again to put the pressure on at 0-30 but Kyrgios puts his foot on the gas to get back level, but he clips one of his flicked skidding forehands wide with the court begging to concede a breakpoint - and RBA accepts it! Kyrgios thought he had deuce but his almost-ace was called a let, forcing another serve which Bautista Agut returned, naturally, and by the end of a skittish rally Kyrgios was demolishing his racquet by the back of the court. Advantage Spain.
Second set: Kyrgios 1-6 2-2 Bautista Agut* (*denotes server): Bosh! Finally Kyrgios wins one of those long rallies to even things up at 15-15, but boy did he have to work hard to win the point. A couple of deep backhand slices - a la Barty - and a couple of rasping forehands engineer some space and the Australian makes no mistake putting the finish away. Another rally follows and Kyrgios again goes to the backhand slice, and this time RBA goes long. Is a change of momentum brewing? Not decisively. Kyrgios fought hard to earn deuce, but once there Bautista Agut closed the door.
Second set: Kyrgios* 1-6 2-1 Bautista Agut (*denotes server): 0-30 on the Kyrgios serve results in a despondent Canberran holding out his hands as if to say “what can I do?”. What he can do is continue to serve like a man with a rocket launcher on his shoulder and smash monster forehands from the baseline until RBA fails to deal with one. Four points in a row has the crowd on its feet and Lleyton Hewitt giving his charge the eyes - that’s right, those eyes - and telling him to get his head up.
We might have a match on our hands after all.
Updated
Second set: Kyrgios 1-6 1-1 Bautista Agut* (*denotes server): Bautista Agut is driving Kyrgios to distraction. When the Australian goes for the corners, the Spaniard is there, when there’s a rally RBA is patient, when there’s an opening he hits it with surgical precision. Kyrgios is throwing everything at him but Spain win the game to love.
Second set: Kyrgios* 1-6 1-0 Bautista Agut (*denotes server): This is a game loaded with significance. Kyrgios has to start the second set strongly on his own serve - and he does - doubling his match total of aces on his way to 40-15 then finding a very handy second serve that Bautista Agut sends long to take the upper hand in the set.
Bautista Agut is playing at the top of his game, Kyrgios well under, and this is one-way traffic.
First set: Kyrgios 1-6 Bautista Agut* (*denotes server): Spain take the opening set in just 30 minutes, Bautista Agut sealing the deal with the most straightforward service game of the night so far.
Can Kyrgios respond?
First set: Kyrgios* 1-5 Bautista Agut (*denotes server): Finally a couple of quick cheap points on the Kyrgios serve to get the crowd involved. Is Bautista Agut fazed? Of course not. He’s immediately back in his zone, imitating a massive brick wall that just returns whatever is smashed at it. 30-30 arrives eventually, aided by a brilliant RBA drop, but Kyrgios kicks away with just his second ace of the night and finally, to the delight of Ken Rosewall Arena, he finishes off the game after punishing the ball deep into Bautsita Agut’s forehand corner often enough for the Spaniard to relent.
First set: Kyrgios 0-5 Bautista Agut* (*denotes server): Kyrgios needs to find a spark from somewhere, but he slips to 0-30 without so much as a rally and 0-40 when he dumps his latest backhand into the net after his monster forehands failed to pierce RBA’s armour. Kyrgios is hitting harder and harder, practically hitting the sponsor’s logo from the ball, but Bautista Agut is unmoved, calmly returning the ball away from his territory like a series of instructional videos. Kyrgios does whistle one winner past to earn 15-40 but the game is over soon after.
Hats off to RBA, this is pristine tennis, neutralising his big hitting opponent.
First set: Kyrgios* 0-4 Bautista Agut (*denotes server): This is not looking good for Australia. Kyrgios slips to 0-30 after first trying to over-egg a winner before the wall that is RBA returned enough shots destined for cheers that Kyrgios lost his flow. A superb winner down the line gives Spain two break points at 15-40 but the Australian finally finds his range with his serves to claw back to deuce.
Again, a desperate, lunged return from RBA forces Kyrgios into hitting a winner, and once again he misses, trying to find the extra inch he requires to beat the defensive masterclass. And from the third break point Bautista Agut makes it count! Kyrgios looking bewildered as he fails to connect with a volley drilled at him at the net.
First set: Kyrgios 0-3 Bautista Agut* (*denotes server): Bautista Agut has started superbly. Nothing flash, no highlight reel winners, just efficiently putting the ball back across the net time and time again, making Kyrgios hit shot after shot and inevitably drawing the error. 40-0 arrives without the Spaniard breaking sweat, at which point Kyrgios begins muttering out loud. An ace seals the deal at 40-15. Kyrgios, and Hewitt, have some thinking to do. They need to figure out how to shorten the points and unsettle Bautista Agut’s rhythm.
First set: Kyrgios* 0-2 Bautista Agut (*denotes server): Kyrgios eases to 30-0 with some forehands that he hits with such rotation from the hips he practically corkscrews himself into the court. Consecutive errors at the net bring RBA back to 30-30, the second of which the product of a miraculous backhand return. Another long rally earns Spain a break point - and Bautista Agut takes it! What a shock! Kyrgios, who has barely lost serve all tournament, is behind the eight ball already. Silence in Sydney.
First set: Kyrgios 0-1 Bautista Agut* (*denotes server): A gentle opening point leads to the barest ripple of applause for Spain but the volume goes up a factor of decibels when Kyrgios finishes a long rally to make it 15-15. 30-30 offers a sniff to Kyrgios but the second prolonged backhand-to-backhand exchange of the game ends with the Australian finding the net. Bautista Agut isn’t given an easy hold though when Kyrgios ups his pace to force a deuce-inducing error.
Another long rally, this time much more expansive, again ends with Kyrgios planing a backhand into the net. This looks to be the tone of RBA’s service games, methodical, conservative baseline hitting. It’s a risk-reward because if he does that too long there’s every chance Kyrgios will try something audacious - and succeed - as he does with a whipcrack crosscourt forehand from the corner - or fail - as he does with a backhand down the line that leaks wide. Bautista Agut then does hold, after an age.
An atmosphere not felt in Australia since the Sydney Olympics, says Todd Woodbridge courtside.
Here we go, Bautista Agut to serve...
While Kyrgios is inevitably the player to catch the eye, his opponent boasts a higher ranking, a longer streak of good form and the kind of hard working all-round game tailor made for team tennis.
Roberto Bautista Agut has been ranked inside the top 30 since 2014, winning titles in five of the past six seasons. A career breakthrough arrived last year when he reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, earning points that vaulted him from the fringes of the top 20 to the verge of the top ten. He eventually crossed that threshold a few weeks later, capping a consistent campaign by helping Spain secure the inaugural Davis Cup Finals in Madrid.
Head-to-head: Kyrgios and Bautista Agut have only met once before on the ATP Tour with the Australian coming out on top. However, it was five years ago, so it’s hard to read too much into it.
Where will the opening rubber be won and lost? If Kyrgios brings his A game on serve he’s a handful for anybody, and he has brought his A game to the ATP Cup so far in his three unbeaten singles matches, dropping serve only twice and leading the tournament for aces (57).
The ATP has published some more scary numbers, including 62 per cent (103/65) of Kyrgios’s first serves going unreturned, with that figure standing at 37 per cent (21/57) for second serves, miles ahead of his nearest rivals.
Despite an official ranking of 29, the 24-year-old is rated sixth by the ATP Tour for his ability to handle pressure situations (converting and saving break points, winning tiebreaks, and winning deciding sets). For comparison, numbers one and two on that list are Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Ken Rosewall Arena looks like it’ll be full tonight, meaning the best part of 10,000 fans in attendance. Most of them cheering on Australia, you’d expect.
Before the anthems there’s a touching presentation to Australian legend Tony Roche, recipient of the inaugural Tim Gullikson Career Coach Award, a gong created by the ATP Tour to recognise the influence of coaches in tennis.
Not far away now. The teams are making their way out onto the court at Ken Rosewall Arena.
This is not ATP Cup related, but another reminder that Madison Keys is a good egg. She’s also very good at tennis, and will take on Naomi Osaka or Karolina Pliskova in tomorrow’s Brisbane International final.
Fans at @BrisbaneTennis can leave us postcards and omg this one was the sweetest. 😭 Thank you Ethan (PS: I made the final, hope you can watch me play tomorrow) 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/5PTWruiAk9
— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) January 11, 2020
The longer this delay drags on, the more likely I am to discuss Rafa’s hair situation. It’s something I’ve felt strongly about for some time.
shave and beard. Obviously
— Ben McKay (@benmackey) January 11, 2020
There can only be 1️⃣#ATPCup | #AUSESP pic.twitter.com/4Yjvfp9EJu
— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 11, 2020
Some questions, while we wait for the second semi to get underway: Have you enjoyed the ATP Cup? Has it felt like a men’s World Cup of tennis? Is it a good lead in to the Australian Open? Is it better than the Hopman Cup / Brisbane & Sydney Internationals?
Answers to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com or @JPHowcroft please.
Conditions: After the stifling heat and humidity of earlier rounds conditions are clement under the canopy of Ken Rosewall Arena. The temperature will be in the low 20sC while the air quality - still far from ideal - is an improvement on recent days courtesy of a southerly breeze.
The good news is the changeover from the opening semi to the second can now take place after Serbia completed a clean sweep over Russia with victory in the doubles. We’re not going to hit a 6.30pm start, but we shouldn’t be delayed by too long.
Australia are flying high after their spectacular quarter-final victory over Great Britain. Nick Kyrgios stole the show, especially with his bear-hugging celebration on court with doubles partner Alex de Minaur.
On the topic of scheduling, we’re witnessing a potential snafu right now with the final rubber of the Serbia v Russia semi-final still occupying Ken Rosewall Arena. Serbia are already through after winning both singles rubbers but this dead doubles encounter is going to delay the start of the second semi. By how much, who knows? It’s currently on serve early in the second set tiebreak with Serbia up one set.
Nadal credited some of his poor form in the quarter-finals to the long journey east to Sydney from Perth. His lament will be familiar to fans of Australian team sports for whom the challenge is a seasonal occurrence.
That’s these three hours’ time changing, different weather conditions, playing against a team that have been here for the last ten days, and we are the only team coming from Perth and playing until the last day of Perth and arriving here during the evening with jet lag, with everything. And today we had very heavy conditions out there, so probably we had the worst situation possible to play this tie.”
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live game-by-game coverage of the second ATP Cup semi-final between Australia and Spain from Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney. Action gets underway at 6.30pm local time.
As I’m sure you’re aware by now these ties are a best of three affair with two singles rubbers followed by a doubles. The opening singles contest pits Nick Kyrgios against Roberto Bautista Agut. After that Alex de Minaur has the unenviable task of taking on world number one Rafael Nadal. The doubles line-ups are subject to change, so we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
The line-ups are mouth-watering, but the pairings have robbed us of the box office bonanza that Kyrgios v Nadal would have generated. There is famously no love lost between the two.
Both nations arrive in the semis after scraping through nail-biting quarter-finals. Australia’s last gasp victory over GB ignited the tournament and reinforced the value of team tennis to the Australian sporting psyche. Spain also relied on a doubles tiebreak to progress, downing Belgium after Rafael Nadal was upset by David Goffin.
Whoever wins tonight already knows they face Novak Djokovic’s Serbia in Sunday’s decider.
If you would like to join in the conversation, please send your emails to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com or tweets to @JPHowcroft.
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