United Cup day five live: USA advances; Djokovic beaten; De Minaur to face Nadal

Key posts

Italy on target in Brisbane

In Brisbane, Italy’s Martina Trevisan has fought back from 5-2 down to win the first set 7-5 in 66 draining minutes against Norway’s Malene Helgo. The Italians defeated Brazil in their first United Cup tie in Group E, and will advance to the knockout stages with a win over Norway. Brazil – who thumped Norway four matches to one in their tie – would advance if Norway beats Italy.

Crowd favourite Djokovic beaten in Adelaide

Novak Djokovic has lost his first match in his return to Australia, going down in the doubles at the Adelaide International, writes Marc McGowan in Adelaide:

“Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar spoil Novak Djokovic’s return, upsetting him and Vasek Pospisil 4-6, 6-3, (10-5). But Djokovic still spent time signing autographs and posing for photos with adoring fans.”

Djokovic, Pospisil drop second set

From our man at the Adelaide International, Marc McGowan:

“A match tiebreaker will decide whether Novak Djokovic makes a wining return to Australia, after he and Vasek Pospisil dropped the second set 6-3 in Adelaide.”

Madison Keys sends USA into next stage

The USA will face Great Britain in Sydney’s “city final” on Wednesday after Madison Keys earned a 6-2, 6-3 win over Germany’s Jule Niemeier. It means the Americans will leap past the Czech Republic and into first place in Group C regardless of how the rest of this tie plays out on Tuesday.

Keys briefly struggled in the second set, with Niemeier fighting back from 4-1 to 4-3, before the American broke back and served out the win.

The Brits have already advanced from Group D by defeating Spain and Australia. The winner of the “city final” will advance to the semi-finals, also to be held in Sydney, on January 6 and 7.

Djokovic starts well in Australian return

Meanwhile in Adelaide, Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil have won the opening set of their Adelaide International first-round match, 6-4, against Tomislav Brkic and Gonzalo Escobar.

Djokovic is warming up for a much-anticipated return to the Australian Open after being sensationally deported from the country ahead of the tournament last year.

Keys strolls through first set

Madison Keys is marching towards a dominant win against Jule Niemeier, winning the first set 6-2. Keys has enjoyed playing in Australia since reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open as a teenager in 2015, and has a 25-9 record at that tournament – her best record in the majors.

The US are on track to advance from their group with a Keys win here.

Keys in control

Can Madison Keys wrap things up early for Team USA? They only need one more victory in this tie to be sure of topping the group, and she’s come out all guns blazing against Germany’s Jule Niemeier. She’s 3-0 up in the first set. Win this match, and the USA will face Great Britain in Sydney’s “city final”.

Keys, 27, is coming off the best season of her career – and she looks like she’s lost none of that form.

Noisy support for Novak

From our reporter Marc McGowan at the Adelaide International.

“Huge response for Novak Djokovic as he arrives on court for doubles with his close friend Vasek Pospisil. Chants of ‘Novak, Novak, Novak’ breaking out.”

Fritz beats Zverev in straight sets

And that’s all she wrote. The USA lead Germany 1-0 in the tie after Taylor Fritz’s 6-1, 6-4 victory over Alexander Zverev. The American wraps it up with a perfect game to put his team on the cusp of finishing top of the group. His German opponent was some way off his best, but there were glimpses of some fighting spirit in that second set as he continues his comeback from injury. He was never really in this one, though. Team USA need just one more win to top the group. They could wrap it up this afternoon.

Team USA closing in

Better from Alexander Zverev in this set but he’s still on course for a straight sets defeat. Realistically, “improvement” is the name of the game for the former world No.2 rather than winning. The fact he’s competing a little more should give him optimism that he’s on the right track. Whether he’ll be competitive enough to challenge by the time the Australian Open swings around is another matter entirely.

It’s not all about Zverev, of course. Taylor Fritz has been clinical as he tries to close this out. He’s already a break up and has snuffed out Zverev’s chance to break back. It’s 4-2 to the American. At the risk of jinxing Fritz, the next time I post could be game, set, match.