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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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
