Rafael Nadal arrives in Perth, seeking another team title at ATP Cup

World no. 1 Rafael Nadal has arrived in Perth with his teammates, leading Spain in Group B of the ATP Cup against Japan, Georgia and Uruguay. After a successful campaign at the Davis Cup Finals in November, Rafa took some well-deserved rest following eight victories in Madrid, returning back to the practice court at home in Mallorca and heading to Abu Dhabi for the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. There, Rafa defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in thrilling final to claim the record-breaking fifth Mubadala crown, flying back home and hitting the court at his Academy until this Perth trip.

With no Kei Nishikori in the Japanese squad, Rafa should score three easy victories and carry Spain towards the quarter-final stage in Sydney, seeking another notable team title after that Davis Cup trophy and ATP points on his tally before an ultimate clash with Novak Djokovic in Melbourne. Unlike many of the greatest players of the last three decades, Rafa had never played at the Hopman Cup and this is his chance to make a debut in Perth, usually playing in Brisbane ahead of the Australian Open. Nadal will make his ATP Cup debut against Nikoloz Basilashvili on Saturday, January 4, hoping to grab the first victory of the season and continue where he left since May last year, suffering only two losses after Madrid and finishing the season as the year-end no. 1 for the fifth time. 

"Hopefully, we arrive in good shape. We have five days to practice before the competition," Nadal said. "We are looking forward to playing on a high level at the ATP Cup before taking a week off ahead of the Australian Open. We are excited to be here and have the opportunity to compete at this great event. I have been to Brisbane a couple of times, preparing for Melbourne; this time, it is Perth and I am excited to get to know a different place."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2SD7H2d