Google News Federico Delbonis 'impressed a lot' with world No. 399 following ATP Cup clash
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 2717
Former world No. 33 Federico Delbonis was impressed with 399th-ranked Michail Pervolarakis following their ATP Cup clash. Delbonis, now ranked at No. 44 in the world, entered the match as the big favorite against Pervolarakis.
However, it wasn't easy as some expected it would but Delbonis still claimed a 7-6 (5) 6-1 win. Delbonis claimed an early first set break but Pervolarakis recovered to force a tie-break. In the tie-break, Pervolarakis led 4-3 before Delbonis won four of the next five points to win a tight opener.
After winning a tight opener, Delbonis broke Pervolarakis twice to seal a straight-set win. “Michail impressed me a lot,” Delbonis said in his on-court interview, per the Atp Cup website. “Especially in the first set when he tried to push his backhand to my forehand and on every forehand, he tried to go to the net and I was a bit uncomfortable with that.
But I took that first set. I am very happy to take a bit of the pressure off Diego”.
Delbonis, Diego Schwartzman get the job done
In the second match of the tie, Schwartzman beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-3 to seal victory for Argentina over Greece.
“I was just trying to think that it was his first match for two months after his elbow [injury], so I was thinking just to try and be in the match,” Schwartzman said in his on-court interview. “I had the chance and I think I was ready.
I am very happy because playing against Stefanos and being a set-and-a-break down is not easy, but I found a way”. Schwartzman absolutely enjoyed the atmosphere in Sydney. “It was a crazy atmosphere,” Schwartzman added.
“A lot of people tonight from Greece, Argentina and Australia. It is very nice to have people watching from our countries. Playing ATP Cup under our flag it is a very nice feeling”. Argentina now has two wins at the ATP Cup.