Tennis • Stan Wawrinka, Grigor Dimitrov Headline Melbourne 1 • Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic set for ATP Cup

By Ricky Dimon

With season-opening occasions in Antalya and Delray Seashore having come and gone, we at the moment are experiencing the calm earlier than the storm that will probably be February in Australia. Following two weeks with out tennis, a pair of 250-point tournaments in Melbourne will accompany the ATP Cup through the first week of February.

Each Melbourne 1 and Melbourne 2 can have attracts of 48 gamers, that means 16 will obtain first-round byes.

The Melbourne 1 discipline is at the moment highlighted by Stan Wawrinka, Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Borna Coric. Additionally collaborating are Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, Ugo Humbert, Marin Cilic, Richard Gasquet, and Frances Tiafoe. This occasion is formally referred to as the Nice Ocean Street Open (the Nice Ocean Street is a 151-mile stretch of freeway alongside the southeastern coast of Australia).

Going down concurrently from Sunday, Jan. 31 by Saturday, Feb. 6 is Melbourne 2–recognized formally because the Murray River Open (the Murray River is Australia’s longest river, spanning 1,558 miles within the southeastern a part of the continent). Among the many headliners are David Goffin, Karen Khachanov, Hubert Hurkacz, Jannik Sinner, and Alexander Bublik. Hurkacz will probably be making an attempt to remain sizzling after capturing his second profession title in Delray Seashore, whereas Bublik completed runner-up in Antalya.

The ATP Cup–additionally in Melbourne–will probably be held from Monday, Feb. 1 by Friday, Feb. 5.

Collaborating nations are defending champion Serbia, 2020 runner-up Spain, Austria, Russia, Greece, Germany, Argentina, Italy, Japan, France, Canada, and Australia. Huge star energy comes within the type of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Alexander Zverev.

The draw, which can divide the 12 groups into 4 teams of three, is ready for Jan. 20.

“Final 12 months we launched the worldwide tennis season with the inaugural ATP Cup,” event director Tom Larner mirrored. “It was an enormous success with each gamers and followers, and we’re excited to current the second version in Melbourne in 2021. The gamers are wanting ahead to stepping up and representing their international locations once more, and the sector, together with defending champions Serbia and finalists Spain, is robust. This can be a format that reveals off the fervour of the gamers and we’re anticipating some spectacular tennis motion.”

Gamers are simply now arriving in Melbourne and can quarantine for 2 weeks earlier than the festivities start.

Ricky
contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The
Grandstand. You may comply with him on
twitter at @Dimonator.