World no. 196 Pablo Carreno Busta is the first winner of the ATP match in the new season. The Spaniard met Alexander Shevchenko 6-2, 6-1 in an hour and four minutes at the United Cup in Perth in Spain’s defeat to Kazakhstan.
The former top-10 player dominated on serve and return. Pablo faced two break points and lost serve once. He mounted the pressure on the other side and converted 57% of the points into five return games from seven opportunities.
Set 1 in the bag for Team Spain 🇪🇸 🤝#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/wnUbieQsTW
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 27, 2024
Shevchenko claimed an extended rally in the first game of the match and landed a forehand winner for an early break. The Kazakh hit a double fault in the second game, dropping serve and returning his opponent to the positive side.
Pablo Carreno Busta & Alexander Shevchenko, United Cup 2025© Stream screenshot
The former top-10 player attacked on the return in the fourth game and drew the rival’s mistake for his second consecutive break and a 3-1 advantage. The Spaniard painted a backhand down the line winner in the fifth game, holding at love and moving 4-1 in front.
Carreno Busta closed the seventh game with a forehand winner at the net and made another push on the return at 5-2. Alexander wasted a 40-15 lead in the eighth game and missed a forehand on a set point, allowing Pablo to claim the opener 6-2 in 38 minutes.
Spain, United Cup 2025© Stream screenshot
Carried by this boost, the Spaniard barely lost a point behind the initial shot in the second set. Shevchenko felt the pressure and cracked under it. The Kazakh netted a backhand in the fourth game, losing serve and falling a set and a break behind.
Pablo grabbed the fifth game with a service winner for 4-1 and provided another break in the next one with a backhand winner at the net. Carreno Busta served for the win at 5-1 and held at love with a service winner, making a strong start to the new season.
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