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Spain, without Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, are unable to make it into the top eight in the Davis Cup Finals 2021. The defeat with Russia is fatal. Despite Feliciano Lopez's historic victory against Andrey Rublev, the hosts are unable to overturn the hierarchy in Madrid's Caja Magica.
Daniil Medvedev gets rid of Pablo Carreno Busta with a very rocky 6-2 7-6 (4) - topped off by a super 5-0 start and a 5-3 advantage even in the heart of the second, the double is not satisfied instead of a set, with the qualification already acquired, with Rublev and Karatsev recovering an important disadvantage and closing at 4-6 6-2 6-4 against the couple made up of Lopez and Marcel Granollers.
The Russian team will see it in the quarter-finals with Sweden and eventually in the semifinals with one between Germany and Great Britain. The Germans secure the first place in the group with the double victory against Austria, the British instead sign the 2-1 against the Czech Republic despite the defeat of Dan Evans against the very young Machac.
The Kazakhstan of Alexandr Bublik and Mikhail Kukushkin also smiles. Back from 3-0 against Canada and on a collision course with Serbia. Novak Djokovic's team, beaten in the decisive double by Germany after the victory against Austria on the opening day, manages to overcome the group stage as second-second.
In the same segment of the board the match between Italy and Croatia. Cilic and his teammates, who needed a single win against Hungary to get through the round, left only the first singles on the road before closing with a very tiring doubles success.
To record the victory of Colombia against the United States. In order to secure the chance to re-enter the group of the best runners-up, the South-American team would still have needed a very clear 3-0. The 2-1 is obviously not enough.
In the first semifinal, Croatia beats Italy 2-1. Lorenzo Sonego's defeat against Borna Gojo condemns the Italian expedition to elimination. The daring success of Jannik Sinner against Marin Cilic is not enough, who among other things also serves with poor results for the match at 6-4 5-4.
The blue number one, who returns to the field with Fabio Fognini for the decisive double, does what he can. Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic (the number one couple in the world) grab the success with a somato easy 6-3 6-4 and send Croatia to the semifinals.
On the plate the match with the winner of the match between Serbia and Kazakhstan.
Ashleigh Barty: "I was upset by criticisms"
Ashleigh Barty has had a particular year deciding to play only some of this season's tournaments.
The Australian tennis player ended her season as world number one for the third consecutive year showing once again her worth. Through the microphones of Code Sports, the tennis player talked about how she has suffered from the criticisms of the past regarding the fact that many were hoping for an overtaking of Naomi Osaka against her when the Japanese won the Us Open 2020 and the Australian Open 2021.
In fact, the frozen ranking had helped Barty to keep the first position and many of the tennis fans were criticizing her overtaking mandate. In an interview, Barty explained: "Maintaining the position again and finishing 2021 in the first World position is something that I am incredibly proud of after such a demanding and certainly unusual season".
The tennis player then continued: "I spent so much time on the road, asking people I love and admire to support me and make sacrifices, certainly for us it is a milestone to celebrate. When I look back on this season I think there have been four parts.
fundamental to maintain the top of the ranking. At the same time I felt people were wondering if I deserved the top spot as Naomi Osaka had won a couple of Grand Slam tournaments in succession. It was probably the first time I felt a little shaken and I wanted to make a statement on the court about it.
" This season Australian tennis player Ashleigh Barty won the Miami Masters 1000 in March and a few months later she took her second career Grand Prix in March. Barty did not play the US Open and missed the Finals at the end of the year but nevertheless ended the season at the top of the standings: "In Miami I understood that beyond defending the titles, my goal was to defend the top position in the standings, for me it was really very important "
