Pella Pulls Through To Give Team Argentina Lead

Guido Pella finished 2019 with a career-best 36 tour-level wins after a campaign in which he won his first ATP Tour title and completed the year as the No. 2 Argentine for the first time. Based on his performance in his first match of 2020 at the inaugural ATP Cup on Saturday, the lefty appears primed to maintain that momentum.

Pella battled past Polish No. 2 Kamil Majchrzak 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 to give Team Argentina a 1-0 lead against Team Poland in Group E play in Sydney. The World No. 25 broke serve five times in his two-hour, four-minute triumph.

The 29-year-old had plenty of support from the crowd inside Ken Rosewall Arena. After shaking hands and heading back to celebrate with his countrymen in their team zone, fans chanted, "Ole, ole, ole! Guido! Guido!"

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Both players struggled landing their first serves in their first match of the season, with each man making less than 50 per cent of their first deliveries. That led to many baseline battles, with Pella trying to dictate play with his heavy forehand and Majchrzak trying to avoid being put on the back foot.

It was Pella who was the more solid player under pressure, and he broke for the second time in the decider to finish off Majchrzak, with the Pole missing a curling forehand approach shot just long.

In the tie's No. 1 singles match, Diego Schwartzman will try to clinch victory for his country against Hubert Hurkacz. It will be the pair's first meeting. 

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