Bautista Agut Gets Team Spain Off To Strong Start In Perth

Roberto Bautista Agut powered his way to victory for Team Spain on Saturday evening in front of a near capacity crowd at the RAC Arena in Perth, one of the Australian cities hosting the inaugural ATP Cup.

The World No. 9 swept past Aleksandre Metreveli of Team Georgia 6-0, 6-0 over 72 minutes in the first singles match of the Group B clash.

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal will next look to give Team Spain an unassailable 2-0 lead against Nikoloz Basilashvili.

“It was a great match and a great start to the tournament,” said Bautista Agut. “I did not have information about him, but I did ask some players who knew him before and had some ideas. I did not see him play. I focused on my game and I knew it was important to start with a break. I wanted to get the advantage. It was good to make the break in the second game. Every match counts and I was to playing full on until the very end.”

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Metreveli battled hard throughout, particularly in his first service game that lasted 16 minutes and 22 points, only for Bautista Agut to turn the screw and earn the first break. The 31-year-old ran through the first set in 41 minutes, converting his third set point — and also breaking Metreveli’s serve for a third time — with a crosscourt forehand winner. Metreveli, the No. 2-ranked Georgian, gained his first break point in the first game of the second set, but Bautista Agut fired down a powerful serve and went on to take a 2-0 lead.

Last year, Bautista Agut broke into the Top 10 of the FedEx ATP Rankings on 19 August, compiled a 42-22 match record and lifted one ATP Tour title at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha (d. Berdych).

The 24-team event is being played in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney from 3-12 January, with the Final Eight beginning on Thursday in Sydney.

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