SYDNEY: World number two Daniil Medvedev and Roman Safiullin won their singles matches before combining to win the doubles on Tuesday to give defending champions Russia a sweep of Australia and first place in Group ‘B’ at the ATP Cup.

Russia are 2-0 in the tournament but still have to beat Italy on Thursday in a rematch between last year’s finalists to ensure they advance to the semi-finals.

Safiullin opened the night session with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 win over James Duckworth. Medvedev beat Alex De Minaur 6-4, 6-2 to secure Russia’s victory before the doubles.

Medvedev’s flawless display the perfect response to his stunning defeat by France’s Ugo Humbert on Sunday and wiped out any doubts about his readiness for this month’s Australian Open.

Italy rebounded from their upset loss to Australia last Sunday to sweep France, with Jannik Sinner beating Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) and Matteo Berrettini defeating Ugo Humbert 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) in the singles matches.

For Berrettini, it was a confidence-boosting win following a loss to de Minaur over the weekend. France are now 0-2 at the tournament, having also lost to Russia.

All four teams in Group ‘C’ have 1-1 records after Germany beat the United States and Canada rallied to beat Britain.

Jan-Lennard Struff withstood 34 aces in a gutsy 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 7-5 win over big-serving John Isner to give Germany the lead and Alexander Zverev sealed his team’s victory, on his fifth match point, with a workmanlike 6-4, 6-4 win over Taylor Fritz.

Isner and Fritz combined for a 6-0, 6-3 win over Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in the doubles, earning the Americans a point that could prove important in determine the group winners.

Germany lost to Britain 2-1 in its tournament opener, and the Americans swept Canada 3-0.

In the night session, Britain’s Dan Evans continued his perfect start to the season with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Denis Shapovalov but Felix Auger-Aliassime levelled the tie for Canada after edging past Cameron Norrie 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 and then combined with Shapovalov to beat Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury 6-4, 6-1 in the deciding doubles match.

The group winners will be decided Thursday when Germany plays Canada and the United States faces Britain.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2022