SYDNEY (AP) — Inabot ng hatinggabi ang laro ni Rafael Nadal, ngunit sapat ang naitalang panalo nitong Sabado (Linggo sa Manila) para akayin ang Spain sa panalo kontra Australia at makausad sa championship match ng ATP Cup laban sa Serbia.

NADAL: Nakalusot sa 20-anyos na karibal

NADAL: Nakalusot sa 20-anyos na karibal

Naisalba ni Nadal angmatikas na pakikihamok ng 20-anyos na si Alex de Minaur, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, para sandigan ang Spain sa semifinal win laban sa host Australia.

Haharapin ng top-ranked na si Nadal at Spanish team ang world No.2 na si Djokovic at Serbian team sa Finals ng 24-team international tournament sa Linggo (Lunes sa Manila). Ginapi ni Djokovic si Daniil Medvedev, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, para sandigan ang Serbia kontra Russia sa hiwalay na semifinals.

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“Yeah, has been a tough couple of days, especially for Team Spain ... with jet lag to make things even a little bit more difficult,” pahayag ni Nadal. “But here we are. Has been important day for us. Roberto played an amazing match, and I had a great comeback.”

Naunang naitala ni Roberto Bautista Agut ang 6-1, 6-4 panalo kay Nick Kyrgios para bigyan ng bentahe ang Spain bago senelyuhan ni Nadal. Kinumpleto nina Pablo Carreno Busta at Feliciano Lopez ang 3-0 dominasyon ng Spain nang magwagi sa tambalan nina John Peers at Chris Guccione 6-2, 6-7 (6), 10-4, sa doubles.

“I wasn’t surprised. He’s young. He has a lot of energy. He plays with a lot of passion,” sambit ni Nadal patungkol kay de Minaur. “Änd I was a little bit lower energy than usual. That’s why he was able to take advantage. And I think when the match was going on, I was able to play better and better, to find a little bit better the rhythm and the energy back to my body.”