In their United Cup group round match against Spain, Cameron Norrie defeated Rafael Nadal for the first time and Katie Swan defeated Nuria Parrizas-Diaz to give Great Britain a 2-0 lead. At Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, Norrie overcame a set deficit to defeat the 22-time Grand Slam champion 3-6 6-3 6-4. Four of the 27-year-prior old’s encounters with Nadal have ended in defeat.
“He bet me easily the last few times, so it’s a great way to end the year for me.I was thinking I’d never won a set before against him and I came out firstly wanting to do that. I had to stay super patient. It was a super physical match and I enjoyed it. It was huge to get through that one and finally beat him. It was a crazy match.”
SAID NORRIE
Nadal, the 36-year-old Australian Open champion, easily won the opening set. But Norrie broke Nadal’s serve in the sixth game of the second set. And held his own to tie the match. Early in the deciding set, world number 14 Norrie broke the lead 3-2. He also saved two break points before serving out the match. The opening round of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament gets off in Melbourne on January 16, Nadal will surely try to defend his Australian Open crown.
“All credit to him that he did a lot of things very well. There’s a way to improve but I have time before the Australian Open starts in two weeks.
SAID NADAL.
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Britain leading in the tournament, needs just one more win
Katie Swan, 23, also rallied after falling behind a set to defeat Parrizas-Diaz 3-6 6-1 6-2. Swan, who is rated 144th and 75 positions behind Parrizas-Diaz, put up a confident display.
Britain needs just one more victory against Spain from their final three games to get to the knockout rounds after defeating Australia 3-0 in their initial group stage match. On Sunday, Paula Badosa will take on Harriet Dart in the opening round, followed by Dan Evans playing Pablo Carreno Busta, and if necessary, the decisive mixed doubles.
There are six round-robin groups of three teams in the first mixed-team competition. For a chance to face the US, Germany, or Czech Republic in a play-off to advance to the semi-finals, Great Britain, Spain, and Australia are battling.
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