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The ATP Cup could have had its wings clipped by a worldwide pandemic, with 24 groups changing into 12.
It could have been compelled to focus totally on Melbourne reasonably than that includes Sydney, Perth and Brisbane, and should now be a six-day prelude to the Australian Open reasonably than the total fortnight that its first taking part in loved final yr. However the premise stays the identical.
The highest males’s gamers on the earth will lead their residence groups on this points-rich singles-and-doubles round-robin competitors, and can afford some much-needed competitors between key contenders on the first Main of 2021.
What’s extra, it is going to happen in a packed week of exercise following two weeks of quarantine. Two extra ATP occasions will run concurrently to make sure that all members of the Open’s singles draw have a chance to play, although these will observe the normal knock-out format. The benefit of qualifying to play within the ATP Cup is that every singles participant is assured not less than two best-of-three matches, extra in the event that they advance to the semis, and maybe nonetheless extra if they’re chosen for doubles, too.
In fact, some groups come into the competitors with a big edge. For whereas every has not less than one top-12 participant—the exception being host nation Australia, which enjoys a wild card within the draw—some nations boast multiple top-20 participant.
Russia, certainly, has two top-10 gamers in No4 Daniil Medvedev, who went on a tear on the finish of 2020 to win the Paris Masters and ATP Finals, and No8 Andrey Rublev, who picked up 5 titles in the midst of a truncated season comprising simply six months of play.
It has fallen to Japan and Argentina to tackle the Russian duo, although the house crew, led by Alex de Minaur, has the unenviable prospect of a Spanish crew boasting last-year’s runner-up, Spain within the form of Rafael Nadal and the No13 ranked Roberto Bautista Agut.
However it’s Group A that appears able to make the largest headlines. Title-holding Serbia is led once more by No1 Novak Djokovic, who gained seven singles and two doubles matches in final yr’s closing. He’s ready backed once more by the not inconsiderable presence of No26 Dusan Lajovic, who gained 4 of his six matches final yr. Noticeable too is that Djokovic’s doubles accomplice in 2020, Viktor Troicki, has been nominated because the Serbian captain.
However Serbia will face Germany—additionally a powerful duo in Alexander Zverev and No37 Jan-Lennard Struff—and Canada, that includes Denis Shapovalov and Milos Raonic (Nos 12 and 15 respectively).
Compact groups are the order of the day
Nearly all of the groups have nominated captains from among the many gamers’ current coaches or quick entourage. For Stefanos Tsitsipas and Dominic Thiem, that additionally means relations, and like Troicki, some present gamers are doubling up—in Diego Schwartzman’s case, he’s actually the lead participant and captain.
For this distinctive yr of reduced-size entourages in Australia, groups could even appoint a captain of a distinct nationality, as within the case of Nishikori’s coach, former Main doubles champion Max Mirnyi.
The format
First the No2 gamers of every crew face one another, then the No1 gamers face off, and the tie is concluded with a doubles match. All of the doubles matches will probably be performed no matter the 2 singles outcomes besides within the closing. Singles matches will probably be best-of-three tie-break units, and doubles will characteristic no-ad scoring and a match tie-break in lieu of a 3rd set.
ATP Cup draw and line-ups
12 groups have been drawn into 4 teams of three for the round-robins. 4 group winners advance to the semi-finals.
Group A
Serbia: Novak Djokovic (No1), Dusan Lajovic (No26); captain Viktor Troicki
Germany: Alexander Zverev (No7), Jan-Lennard Struff (No37); captain Mischa Zverev
Canada: Denis Shapovalov (No12), Milos Raonic (No15); captain Peter Polansky
Group B
Spain: Rafael Nadal (No2), Roberto Bautista Agut (No13); Pepe Vendrell
Greece: Stefanos Tsitsipas (No6), Michail Pervolarakis (No462); captain Apostolos Tsitsipas
Australia (WC): Alex de Minaur (No23), John Millman (No38); captain Lleyton Hewitt
Group C
Austria: Dominic Thiem (No3), Dennis Novak (No99); captain Wolfgang Thiem
Italy: Matteo Berrettini (No10), Fabio Fognini (No17); captain Vincenzo Santopadre
France: Gael Monfils (No11), Benoit Paire (No28); captain Richard Ruckelshausen
Group D
Russia: Daniil Medvedev (No4), Andrey Rublev (No8); captain Evgeny Donskoy
Argentina: Diego Schwartzman (No9), Guido Pella (No44); captain Schwartzman
Japan: Kei Nishikori (PR10), Yoshihito Nishioka (No57); Max Mirnyi
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