LIVE: Nadal’s stunning ‘playing for nothing’ swipe, Djoker begins Aus Open campaign

LIVE: Nadal’s stunning ‘playing for nothing’ swipe, Djoker begins Aus Open campaign

Rafael Nadal has called for an overhaul to the United Cup format and hinted at potentially withdrawing from his side’s doubles rubber against Australia on the sixth day of the event.

Nadal was stunned by Australian star Alex de Minaur, who came from a set down to defeat the Spaniard on Monday night.

Spain’s losses so far in the tournament mean the side cannot progress from the group stage, but still has three matches to play in Sydney on Tuesday night, including a mixed doubles rubber Nadal is scheduled to play in.

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Aussie Popyrin beats World Number 6! | 01:18

After Monday’s loss, Nadal said the competition’s format needed review.

“Putting things in perspective (for) this competition, I find a negative point,” the reigning Australian Open champion said.

“Competition is great. Idea is great. It’s not great that today we are playing for nothing.

“It’s the first year of this competition, so that’s the kind of thing that we need to fix, to improve, and to make it more interesting for everyone.”

Key matchups at the United Cup on Tuesday include former world No.10 Pablo Carreno Busta up against breakout Australian Jason Kubler, while in Perth it will be Matteo Berrettini looking to start his season in style after injury hindered much of his 2022 campaign.

Nadal’s arch rival, Novak Djokovic, will make his singles return in Australia for the first time since being deported from the country last January, with the 21-time grand slam champion competing in the Adelaide International.

Djokovic, who lost in the doubles on Monday, faces 30-year-old French journeyman Constant Lestienne.

Later, Aussie young gun Rinky Hijikata will take on world No.18 Denis Shapovalov, while five-time Australian Open finalist Andy Murray will face son-of-a-gun Sebastian Korda.

UNITED CUP: Day 6 Order of play (all times AEDT)

Sydney, Ken Rosewall Arena

United States vs Germany (Group C)

Matches start from 10am

Jessica Pegula (USA) def. Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-3, 6-2

Frances Tiafoe (USA) vs Oscar Otter (GER)

Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz (USA) vs Julia Lohoff and Fabian Fallert (GER)

Spain vs Australia (Group D)

Matches start from 4:30pm

Paula Badosa (ESP) vs Zoe Hives (AUS)

Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) vs Jason Kubler (AUS)

Paula Badosa and Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs Samantha Stosur and John Peers (AUS)

Perth, RAC Arena

Greece vs Belgium (Group A)

Matches start from 1pm

Maria Sakkari (GRE) vs Elise Mertens (BEL)

Michail Pervolarakis (GRE) vs Zizou Bergs (BEL)

Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs Elise Mertens and David Goffin (BEL)

France vs Croatia (Group F)

Matches start from 7:30pm

Caroline Garcia (FRA) vs Petra Martic (CRO)

Adrian Mannario (FRA) vs Borna Gojo (CRO)

Caroline Garcia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) vs Donna Vekic and Borna Coric (CRO)

Brisbane, Pat Rafter Arena

Italy vs Norway (Group E)

Matches start from 11am

Matteo Berrettini (ITA) vs Casper Ruud (NOR)

Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) vs Ulrikke Eikeri (NOR)

Camilla Rosatello and Andrea Vavassori (ITA) vs Ulrikke Eikeri and Viktor Durasovic (NOR)

Poland vs Switzerland (Group B)

Matches start from 5:30pm

Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs Stan Wawrinka (SUI)

Magda Linette (POL) vs Jil Teichmann (SUI)

Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs Belinda Bencic and Stan Wawrinka (SUI)

ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL: Order of play (all times AEDT)

Centre Court

Matches start from 11:30am

Daniil Medvedev (3) vs Lorenzo Sonego

Novak Djokovic vs Constant Lestienne

Anhelina Kalinina vs Victoria Azarenka

Not before 7pm

Roberto Bautista Agut vs Andrey Rublev (4)

Not before 8:30pm

Jelena Ostapenko (7) vs Karolina Pliskova

Showcourt 1

Matches start from 11:30am

Qinwen Zheng vs Anett Kontaveit (6)

Ekaterina Alexandrova (8) vs Marketa Vondrousova

Not before 2:30pm

Jannik Sinner (6) vs Kyle Edmund

Rinky Hijikata vs Denis Shapovalov (7)

Andy Murray vs Sebastian Korda