Serbia vs Spain Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Cup, Group B

Prediction published on 11/01/2020, 15:17  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 11/01/2020 at 16:18 in Tennis Predictions

The ATP Cup reaches its final as Serbia takes on Spain and that means we get one heck of a singles rubber. Rafael Nadal takes on Novak Djokovic as Spain bid to complete the Davis and ATP Cup double. This new team tournament is virtually identical to the Davis Cup that Spain won towards the end of last year. The main difference is that there are valuable ranking points available here. That explains the farce of both semi-finals having a final doubles rubber played when the tie had already been won. The main focus will be on Nadal v Djokovic but there are two other rubbers to be played. The final begins with Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut taking on Dusan Lajovic. Augut is ranked tenth in the world and 24 places above his opponent. So far in this tournament, Agut has won all five of his singles matches in straight sets not dropping more than six games in a match. Lajovic has also had a good week but lost to Benoit Paire. 

Agut can be fancied to put Spain 1-0 up which will put more pressure on Novak Djokovic.  He has to take on the world number one Rafael Nadal and hasn't lost a hard court match to him since 2013. Djokovic is unbeaten this week, while Nadal has lost to David Goffin and dropped a set against Alex de Minaur in the semi-final. Djokovic can be fancied to win this rubber which will mean it all goes down to the doubles. It's possible that Nadal and/or Djokovic could also play in that match. Spain could opt to play Busta/Lopez but they have been strong all week whatever line-up chosen with no defeats so far. Go for Spain to win this title.