Canada swept their debut in the new ATP Cup thanks to the victories of Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime in their singles games against the Greeks Stefanos Tsitsipas and Michail Pervolarakis, and their subsequent triumph in doubles.
The 24-team tournament kicks off the 2020 ATP season, with matches in Brisbane and Sydney, on Australia’s east coast, and in Perth, in the state of Western Australia.
The Canadians achieved an indisputable 2-0 lead before doubles when Shapolvalov managed to dominate Tsitsipas, No. 6 in the world rankings, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) in Brisbane.
The United States were 1-0 up and John Isner had match points in the second singles match against Norway when Casper Ruud revolutionized the game and gave the Norwegians a 2-1 victory in Perth.
The Americans took the lead in Group D with Taylor Fritz’s 6-2, 6-2 win over Viktor Durasovic, and Isner came within two points of winning the second-set tiebreaker. But Ruud converted his fifth set point and took the match 6-7 (3), 7-6 (10), 7-5. He later teamed up with Durasovic to beat Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek 4-6, 6-3, 10-5.
Auger-Aliassime, 19, scored the first victory in tournament history by sweeping 6-1, 6-3 over Greek Pervolarakis, who finished 487th in the world last season.
The Canadians completed their successful day with a 6-2, 6-3 win in doubles over Pervolarakis and Petros Tsitsipas, Stefanos’ brother.
Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios served 20 aces in a victory that helped Australia beat Germany 3-0 in the ATP Copoa.
The win cost Kyrgios A $ 4,000. The young tennis player had promised to donate AU $ 200 ($ 140) for every ace he achieves this month to help recover from the fires that have devastated parts of Australia, leaving 19 dead and 1,400 homes destroyed.
He opened and closed his 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over Jan-Lennard Struff in Brisbane with powerful serves, including an ace down the middle to seal it.
Alex De Minaur followed with a surprise victory over Alexander Zverev and Australia also took the doubles duel.
In Perth, Russia beat Italy, with victories by Daniil Medvedev and Karen Kachanov on singles.
Bulgaria defeated Great Britain 2-1 as Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Lazarov survived two match points to beat 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 11-9 in the decisive doubles match against Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury. Dimitrov had beaten Dan Evans 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in his second singles game to even the actions 1-1.
Belgium started off with a perfect record against Moldova, the last team to qualify, in Sydney.
The winners of each of the six groups and the best two seconds will advance to the quarter-finals, which will be played in Sydney on January 9. AP