Injury forces Nadal out of ATP Cup match

TENNIS

MELBOURNE: World No 2 Rafa Nadal said he pulled out of Spain’s opening ATP Cup tie in Melbourne yesterday with a lowerback problem.

With less than a week left before the Australian Open, Nadal was due to play the second singles against Alex De Minaur in Spain’s tie against host Australia at the Rod Laver Arena but pulled out hours before his match.

Spain, which lost in the final of the inaugural ATP Cup last year, will play Greece tomorrow and Nadal said he hoped he would be fit to play the tie and get some match practice before the Australian Open on February 821.

A spokesman for Nadal, who tied Roger Federer’s 20 grand slam singles titles with his French Open victory last year, said the 34yearold preferred ‘‘not to force too much’’.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic began his season in style with a 75, 75 win over Canadian talent Denis Shapovalov on his favourite Rod Laver Arena court yesterday before returning to lead Serbia to a doubles victory that sealed its ATP Cup opener 21.

Leading Serbia’s title defence in the teambased event, Djokovic was thrilled with his form in the group A clash, a rematch of last year’s quarterinal against Shapovalov.

‘‘It’s a great opening of the season. I hope all of you who came here enjoyed it because I certainly did,’’ the world No 1 told a small crowd at the stadium, soaking up boisterous cheers from Serbian fans.

Last year, the Canadian had pushed Djokovic to a thirdset tiebreak but the Serb wrapped things up more quickly yesterday, breaking Shapovalov as he served to stay in the match.

Himself unbroken on serve, Djokovic sealed the match with a sparkling winner, scrambling to his right to whip a curling forehand passing shot down the line.

The win levelled the tie at 11 after Canadian Milos Raonic had eased past Dusan Lajovic 63, 64.

Djokovic, who will bid for a recordextending ninth Australian Open title, returned to play in the decisive doubles with Filip Krajinovic and the pair clinched the tie with a 75 76 (74) win over Raonic and Shapovalov. — Reuters

GETTY IMAGES Double delight . . . World No 1 Novak Djokovic (left) and Filip Krajinovic, of Serbia, celebrate winning their group A doubles match against Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov, of Canada, during day one of the ATP Cup in Melbourne yesterday.