Atp cup
No 'Big Three' would be disaster for Australian Open - Kyrgios
The dominant 'Big Three' have won 20 Grand Slam titles each and Nick Kyrgios said tennis still needs them, starting in Melbourne next month.
To enter Australia he and members of his entourage will have to be vaccinated and the 34-year-old has previously expressed his opposition to the vaccine.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion had cast doubt on whether he would defend his title at Melbourne Park next month, refusing to reveal whether he was inoculated against coronavirus.
The Spaniard was heavily favoured to win the match and secure Spain a berth in the semi-finals after Roberto Bautista Agut eased past Kimmer Coppejans 6-1, 6-4 in the first singles match.
The world number two was made to work hard in a hot and humid Sydney by the 14th-ranked young gun before prevailing 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4).
A dynamic Nick Kyrgios and dogged Alex de Minaur powered Australia into the ATP Cup semifinals Thursday with an epic 2-1 win over the Tim Henman-led Britain.
Anderson, runner-up at the 2017 US Open and Wimbledon a year later, played only five tournaments last year due to injury before undergoing knee surgery in September.
The $15 million ATP Cup, which features 24 nations, is a solid platform for the world’s top players to prepare for this month’s Australian Open, which starts in Melbourne from 20 January.
South Africa will play their opener on Saturday in Group A against Serbia in Brisbane.
A look at the major sporting events coming up in 2020.
The former world number four, who has slipped to 13, said he was disappointed not to be able to begin his season as hoped for in January.
The tournament will make its debut in 2020 and is an international outdoor hard-court men's tennis tournament between competing nations.