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MELBOURNE — Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic got his season off to a perfect start with a battling win over Denis Shapovalov in the ATP Cup Tuesday, but Rafael Nadal pulled out injured and World No. 3 Dominic Thiem crashed to defeat.

The Serbian World No. 1, who will be chasing a ninth Australian Open crown when the year’s first Grand Slam begins on Monday, was pushed hard before coming through 7-5, 7-5 against the hot shot Canadian on Rod Laver Arena 

Djokovic showed no signs of being hindered by a nasty blister on his racquet hand that troubled him at an Adelaide exhibition last week and returned 30 minutes later alongside Filip Frajinovic to play the decisive doubles rubber.

The pair beat Shapovalov and Milos Raonic 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) as defending champions Serbia took the Group A tie against Canada 2-1.

“It was a great opening of the season. Playing Shapo is always a great challenge on hardcourts, he is such a dynamic, explosive player,” said Djokovic, who was fired up by playing in front of a smattering of noisy Serbian fans.

“I thought we both played on a pretty high level, so I’m really pleased with the way I started the season.

“This is a great competition,” added Djokovic, who won all eight matches he contested en route to the trophy last year. “We need more competitions where we represent a team, represent our country.” 

On a cool day, big-serving Raonic got Canada off to a blistering start, crushing Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4 in 79 minutes to give his team a 1-0 lead, with the former World No. 3, now ranked 15, dropping just eight points on serve while sending down 11 aces.

It was left to Djokovic to level the tie before clinching the doubles rubber.

Serbia beat Nadal’s Spain in the final of the inaugural and hugely popular tournament last year in Sydney — launched as a rival to the Davis Cup.

It has been slimmed down from 24 teams to 12 this year due to the coronavirus with all matches at Melbourne Park over five days with US$7.5 million at stake, rather than the multi-city format employed in 2020.

Nadal was due to face Australia’s Alex de Minaur in an evening Group B clash, but withdrew shortly beforehand with a back niggle.

“Hi all, we have decided with Team Spain and my team, to not play today the first match of the ATP Cup here in Melbourne since I have a stiff low back,” he tweeted.

Nadal, though, was in his team corner courtside, jumping up and down, and said he hoped to be fit by Thursday, when Spain meet Greece.

In his absence, Spanish No. 2 Roberto Bautista Agut stepped up to face de Minaur and rose to the challenge, bouncing back from losing the opening set to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Pablo Carreno Busta earlier beat John Millman 6-2, 6-4 to ensure his country claimed the tie.

Thiem tumbles

While Djokovic tasted victory, US Open champion Thiem, who lost to the Serb in a gripping Australian Open final last year, got his season off to a disappointing start.

He slumped 6-2, 6-4 to Italian World No. 10 Matteo Berrettini who never allowed the Austrian to get going with his big-swinging game.

“I’m very happy obviously for myself, but in this competition we’re playing for a team, so it’s really nice,” Berrettini said. “I’m really happy with my performance.

“Playing for your country is something special.”

Berrettini was under pressure after Austria took the lead in their Group C clash when 100th-ranked Dennis Novak earned one of the biggest wins of his career, upsetting World No. 17 Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-2.

It sent the tie to a deciding doubles with Thiem returning alongside Novak only to crash again, losing 6-1, 6-4 to Berrettini and Fognini.

Russia won the day’s other tie against Argentina, with Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev both posting wins.

MADRID — Lionel Messi underlined his worth to Barcelona by scoring a sensational free-kick on Sunday, but Atletico Madrid are in charge of La Liga after beating Cadiz to stand 10 points clear at the top of the table. 

Messi’s stunning effort in a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao had been matched by the Argentinian’s friend and former team-mate Luis Suarez, who earlier curled in a superb free-kick of his own in Atletico’s 4-2 victory over Cadiz. 

Atletico end the weekend even further ahead after Real Madrid’s defeat by Levante on Saturday, which means Zinedine Zidane’s side are now level with Barca on points, both of them struggling to keep pace in the title race.

“Every game is an important step towards reaching the goal we set ourselves at the start of the season,” said Diego Simeone. “We have to keep pushing each other.”

Barca’s win at least maintains their momentum while Messi’s 650th club goal may have carried extra satisfaction for the Argentinian, who had the details of his contract published in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo on Saturday night. 

El Mundo claimed the deal signed by Messi in 2017 shows he could earn up to 555 million euros over its four years, describing it as “the colossal contract that ruined Barcelona”. 

“Someone has done it with bad intentions to cause problems,” said Ronald Koeman. “You have to respect a player who has given so much to Spanish football and to this club. I didn’t have any doubts that it wouldn’t affect him on the pitch.”

Few can argue with Messi’s contribution in that regard, with the 33-year-old showing against Bilbao why the club have gone to such lengths to keep him. 

Bilbao briefly drew level through a Jordi Alba own-goal early in the second half but Antoine Griezmann’s strike secured Barca their third consecutive victory, with Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie de Jong both impressive again. 

Asked what Messi worth is to the team, Griezmann said: “What a question, we are enjoying him, he is a legend. I hope we can keep enjoying him for many more years.”

Suarez haunts Barca

But Barcelona continue to be haunted by the spectre of Suarez, whose tremendous free-kick and then a penalty helped Atletico push their advantage into double figures. 

While Messi’s free-kick was closer and bent perfectly into the top right-hand corner, Suarez’s shot was further out and hit harder, a fizzing effort that curled into the left side of the net.

“The other day they were practising free-kicks,” said Simeone. “I told him we had not seen him score many goals from free-kicks so that’s why I smiled when I saw him score this one.”

“After spending so long at Barca with Messi, it was difficult,” added Suarez.

He was the driving force again, his two goals making it nine in his last eight games and 14 now for the season. 

His goals and assists have now earned Atletico 12 extra points in the league, with Barcelona’s decision to let him leave, especially for title rivals, seeming more misjudged by the week. 

It could get even worse for them and Real Madrid, given Simeone’s side still have a game in hand over each of them. 

Both would have been given hope by a rousing display from newly-promoted Cadiz, who were inspired by the relentless Alvaro Negredo. 

The 35-year-old scored twice, could have had a hat-trick and certainly did not deserve to be on the losing side.

But Suarez’s double, between goals from Saul Niguez and Koke late on, sealed another three points for Atletico, who now have the La Liga crown within reach, even with half of the season left to play.

MILAN — Romelu Lukaku scored a second-half double as Inter Milan kept the pressure on Serie A leaders AC Milan with a 4-0 win over Benevento on Saturday.

Antonio Conte’s Inter sit two points behind their city rivals, who beat Bologna 2-1 earlier on Saturday.

A Riccardo Improta own goal put the hosts ahead early on against 11th-placed Benevento at the San Siro.

Lautaro Martinez scored 12 minutes after the break before Lukaku added two more.

Champions Juventus moved into third, seven points off top spot with a game in hand, after a 2-0 win over Sampdoria.

Milan bounced back after losses to Atalanta in the league and to Inter in the Italian Cup on Tuesday, a game in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off.

“It was a strong response from the team. A victory that gives us confidence at the end of a difficult week,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli.

The midweek Milan derby was overshadowed by a clash between Ibrahimovic and former Manchester United teammate Lukaku.

Ibrahimovic on Saturday drew a blank for a second straight league game for the first time this season.

Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski made a brilliant double save from the Swede early on.

The visitors were awarded a penalty when Mitchell Dijks brought down Rafael Leao, with Ibrahimovic stepping up to take it.

But the 39-year-old’s poor record from the spot continued with his fourth penalty miss in all competitions this season.

Luckily, Ante Rebic was on hand to slide in the rebound after Skorupski’s save.

Franck Kessie took Milan’s second penalty 10 minutes after the break following an Adama Soumaoro handball.

The Ivorian made no mistake, planting the ball into the middle of the net.

“The penalty taker is Ibra, it’s up to him, when he doesn’t feel like taking it, I kick,” said Kessie.

Substitute Andrea Poli pulled a goal back for 13th-placed Bologna against his former club with nine minutes to go.

Eriksen makes mark again

In Milan, Inter’s Christian Eriksen, who scored a late winner in the Cup derby, set up the first goal in the seventh minute when his free-kick was turned into his own net by Improta.

Martinez ended his six-match goal drought on 57 minutes with a left-footed strike into the bottom corner.

Achraf Hakimi had a goal ruled out for offside, but seconds later Benevento goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo’s dreadful pass was intercepted by Martinez, who set up Lukaku to score.

Substitute Alexis Sanchez served up the fourth for Lukaku with 12 minutes to go, bringing the striker’s tally to 14 league goals this season, one fewer than Serie A leading scorer Ronaldo.

“[Eriksen] is adapting very well to this new role,” said Inter assistant coach Cristian Stellini, standing in for Conte who is serving a two-match ban.

“He’s working hard, now he has the opportunity to prove his worth.”

In Genoa, Ronaldo failed to score for the third consecutive league game, but Juventus continued their climb up the table.

The Portuguese striker has been criticised for breaking coronavirus rules with a visit to a mountain resort for his girlfriend’s birthday.

“Ronaldo always does his bit for the team and it’s not a problem if he doesn’t score,” said Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo.

Federico Chiesa opened the scoring on 20 minutes after a move involving all three Juventus forwards.

Alvaro Morata played a one-two with Ronaldo, before the Spaniard’s low cross was slotted in by Chiesa.

Claudio Ranieri’s Sampdoria came close to an equaliser, with Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny denying Fabio Quagliarella a goal against his former club on the eve of his 38th birthday.

Morata had a goal ruled out for offside on 56 minutes for Juve, who had to wait until injury time to score a second.

Ronaldo’s cross-field pass found the run of Juan Cuadrado who laid it on a plate for Ramsey to tap in his second league goal of the season.

“The attitude is right, we finish a positive January in which we have grown a lot, even if we could have killed off the game sooner,” said Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini.

LONDON — Manchester United may have surrendered top spot in the Premier League with a shock home defeat to bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, but the fact the Red Devils are even involved in a title race is testament to Bruno Fernandes’s first 12 months at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men travel to Arsenal on Saturday a year to the day since the Portuguese midfielder joined a side languishing 30 points off the top in fifth place.

Solskjaer’s days in charge looked numbered after a toxic response from the home support to a 2-0 defeat to Burnley in United’s final league game before Fernandes’s arrival.

In 52 appearances, the 26-year-old has scored 28 goals and provided 18 assists, earning comparisons to Eric Cantona’s talismanic turnaround in United’s fortunes.

Over the past year, no team has taken more Premier League points than United.

However, Fernandes’s impact goes beyond the stats.

For a side badly in need of a leader, the former Sporting Lisbon captain has come to the fore, demanding that others match his standards.

“I don’t do anything like saying ‘I want to be a leader or I want to do things in a different way to someone’, it’s the natural way I have. It’s something that’s in my game,” said Fernandes.

“For me the point is helping everyone with my voice when I can and also with my energy and everything I do in the game to help the team.”

That has led to on-pitch rebukes of his teammates and frustration at Solskjaer whenever he is substituted or rested.

But it is also a commitment to excellence has often been missing from United in the eight years since legendary former manager Alex Ferguson retired.

“He’s never happy with me when I tell him to go inside after training when he’s playing the next day so he got some practice yesterday,” said Solskjaer after Fernandes came off the bench to score the winner with a stunning free-kick against Liverpool in the FA Cup last weekend.

“When you leave him out like I did today, he stayed about 45 minutes after training yesterday shooting free-kicks so I was pretty confident he could score one if he got the chance.”

The most successful club in English football history when it comes to league titles have not even competed for one since Ferguson’s departure.

“My mentality, my way to be in my life and football is about winning,” said Fernandes this week.

“I don’t conform with losing games is normal stuff. For me, losing is not normal so my mentality comes from that.”

United had not suffered defeat in the league for 13 games stretching back to November until they were blunted by the Blades in midweek.

Manchester City have moved into the pole position at the top of the table with an ominous run for the other challengers of 11 consecutive wins in all competitions.

If United are to remain in the race, a return to winning ways is needed at the Emirates on Saturday, where they have lost on their two previous visits under Solskjaer.

Those defeats came prior to Fernandes’s arrival. In the past year, United have undoubtedly progressed, but without trophies to show for it.

Solskjaer’s men have lost four cup semifinals in the past two seasons and crashed out of the Champions League at the group stages in December.

“I come to the club because I knew I will come to a club who wants to win everything,” Fernandes said on the attraction United still holds for top players.

A four-year drought without any silverware is too long for a club of United’s size, but it is thanks to Fernandes they are at least now contenders.

AMMAN — Jordan Baja’s promise to return ‘bigger and better’ in 2021 is on track after publishing the supplementary regulations and opening the entry registration for the event scheduled to take place from March 18-20, according to the Jordan Motorsport Media Service.

Following the understandable decision to postpone last year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Jordan Motorsport is delighted to announce that it will be hosting the fourth round of the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and the second round of the FIM Bajas World Cup (bikes) over the same weekend.

The event will once again be based out of the Red Sea resort of Aqaba, home of the first two impressive runnings of the Jordan Baja, with competitive kilometres running through the spectacular southern deserts of Wadi Rum.

“We can’t wait to welcome back world-class motor sport to Jordan,” said Zaid Balqez, chairman of the organising committee. “Cancelling last year’s event was the right thing to do under the circumstances, and we will be putting the strictest protocols in place, in co-ordination with the relevant Jordanian Governmental departments and the FIA, to ensure that we hold an event that is safe for all involved in March.”

The event will get underway with a spectator-friendly 2.85km stage held in the heart of Aqaba on the afternoon of March 18 to ensure that fans have the opportunity to enjoy the action close up.

The city centre entertainment will continue into the evening with a press conference, where spectators will hear from the international star drivers first hand, followed by a ceremonial start.

On Friday, March 19, the competitive action starts in earnest with the tough 210km Wadi Rum stage in the morning, followed by the 130km Al Disi stage in the afternoon.

On Saturday, March 20, competitors will tackle the gruelling 245km Salhiyah stage before returning to Aqaba for the ceremonial podium finish in the afternoon.

The first Jordan Baja was held in 2018 as a successful candidate event, and then took its place on the full FIA calendar in 2019, an event won by Poland’s Jakub Przygonski with his German co-driver, Timo Gottschalk, in a MINI All4 Racing. The 2020 edition was set to include the FIM Bajas World Cup round for bikes for the first time.

Prior to Jordan, the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas will visit Russia (February 4-7), Dubai (February 18-20) and Saudi Arabia (March 4-6), while the bikes will be launching their World Cup season at the Dubai event before coming to Jordan.