A relentless Russia crushed Italy 2-0 to win their maiden ATP Cup Sunday with Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev in ruthless, red-hot form l...
A relentless Russia crushed Italy 2-0 to win their maiden ATP Cup Sunday with Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev in ruthless, red-hot form leading into the Australian Open.
Russia were the only nation in the 12-team event to boast two top 10 players and they had swept past Japan, Argentina and Germany en route to the decider.
Italy were flattened by the same Russian juggernaut on Rod Laver Arena, with Rublev destroying Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-2 in just 61 minutes before Medvedev overpowered Matteo Berrettini 6-4, 6-2 in 79 minutes.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Russia captain Evgeny Donskoy.
“If the level is going to be the same, these guys are going to see each other in the (Australian Open) quarter-finals because I saw the draw.”
World number four Medvedev and eighth-ranked Rublev have been the two hottest players on tour since last year’s US Open.
They kick off their Australian Open campaigns on Tuesday and are scheduled to meet in the last eight.
Medvedev is now on a career-long win streak of 14 matches, including his third ATP Masters title in Paris and victory at the season-ending ATP Tour Finals, with 10 of those victories over top 10 opponents.
“It’s a really big achievement ... it’s a big boost in confidence,” said Medvedev of his run...
