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The inaugural ATP Cup final yr reinvented the idea of team tennis, following on from the change in format within the now-infamous Davis Cup. Singles and doubles gamers alike battle it out to crown their nation victorious within the blazing solar of Australia. The format has modified for this yr, halving the variety of groups to 12 and solely happening in a single venue, Melbourne Park. Nonetheless, the stakes are nonetheless as excessive as ever. Serbia stormed to victory final yr with Novak Djokovic undoubtedly the star of the present. The present world no.1 defeated Rafael Nadal within the finals to assist his country lift the inaugural title and arrange this years defence. The Serbian group will look to defend their title this yr regardless of some stiff competitors throughout the globe, and right here’s how the group will truthful in Melbourne.
Novak Djokovic:
Novak Djokovic arrives in Australia chasing the title of most weeks atop the ATP rankings, and a powerful displaying down underneath should ensure Federer’s record (310 weeks) is beaten. His efficiency final yr is one thing he’s certain hoping to emulate. The Serbian went unbeaten ultimately yr’s event solely dropping two units. His path to the ultimate noticed him beat the likes of Gael Monfils and Kevin Anderson within the group phases. A string of inauspicious matches noticed him tackle Denis Shapolvalov of Canada and Daniil Medvedev of Russia, dropping units towards each however prevailing to arrange a finals conflict with Spaniard Rafael Nadal. The eight-time Australian Open champion received his finals match 6-2 7-6 earlier than rising victorious within the doubles match to carry the crown.
Djokovic in 2020:
Following the success within the ATP Cup, Djokovic went on to win his eighth Australian Open title, defeating Dominic Thiem within the ultimate regardless of being 2-1 down. This made him the primary man to win an Open Period Grand Slam title in three separate a long time. His scorching streak continued in Dubai, profitable the Tour 500 occasion by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas within the ultimate. The resumption of tennis proved in the end profitable for the World No.1, changing into the primary man to win a “Golden Masters“. By defeating Milos Raonic within the ultimate, Djokovic equaled Rafael Nadal’s 35 Masters 1000 titles, however would quickly overtake the Spaniard. Favourite to win the US Open, Djokovic exited within the fourth spherical after accidentally striking a lines official with the ball throughout a match with Pablo Carreno Busta.
He returned to motion together with his thirty sixth Masters 1000 title, profitable the Rome Masters after besting Diego Schwartzman within the ultimate—the Argentine profitable towards event favourite Nadal within the semifinal. What adopted was a powerful run on the French Open earlier than falling by the hands of the “King of Clay,” dropping in straight units within the ultimate. A shock loss to Lorenzo Sonego in Vienna left solely the Nitto ATP Finals for Djokovic to cement himself as the highest participant in 2020. He certified for the semi-finals however misplaced to Dominic Thiem, leaving the Serbian with out a year-end crown since 2015. His dominance throughout the calendar yr left him 10 weeks wanting Federer’s report because the no.1 ranked participant.
Djokovic on the 2021 ATP Cup:
Serbia have been drawn in Group A for the 2021 ATP Cup. That is extensively thought-about the “Group of Loss of life” at this yr’s event, matched with Germany and Canada. As the very best ranked participant for the nation, Djokovic faces Alexander Zverev of Germany, recent off of his first Grand Slam ultimate and successive titles in Cologne. The 2 met ultimately yr’s ATP Finals, Djokovic profitable their spherical robin match and taking their head-to-head report to 4-2. Canada’s high seed is Denis Shapovalov, with the 2 assembly for consecutive years after Serbia’s win within the Quarter Finals final yr. The Serbian has a 5-0 head-to-head report towards Shapovalov.
Dusan Lajovic:
Retaining his place from final yr, Dusan Lajovic returns to Australia after a powerful displaying on the 2020 ATP Cup. The World No.26 received 4 of his six matches final yr, popping out victorious towards Lloyd Harris and Nicolas Jarry. His group stage loss to Beniot Paire didn’t cease Serbia from qualifying for the Quarter Finals, the place Lajovic beat the thrilling expertise Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight units. His Semi-Closing match towards Karen Khachanov helped the nation attain the ultimate the place he misplaced to Spain’s second participant, Roberto Bautista Agut. This didn’t deter Serbia from being topped the inaugural ATP Cup champions, which might show the spotlight of Lajovic’s season.
He obtained via the primary two rounds of the Australian Open earlier than falling to Argentina’s first participant, Diego Schwartzman, in straight units. He adopted up his run in Melbourne with a quarterfinals look in Buenos Aries dropping to eventual winner Casper Ruud. What adopted was a string of tournaments the place the Serbian exited sooner than hoped, his greatest win coming towards World No.19 Milos Raonic in Rome. He was then knocked out by Rafael Nadal. Lajovic managed to match this feat in Hamburg weeks later, beating one other high 20 participant in Karen Khachanov – his second successive win over the Russian. He exited within the quarterfinals to eventual finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. He rounded the yr off with a single victory in 5 event appearances, beating solely Gianluca Majer on the French Open.
Lajovic on the 2021 ATP Cup:
The Serbia second-string will face the second highest ranked gamers from Germany and Canada. This sees group stage clashes with Jan-Lennard Struff, the pair solely dealing with as soon as of their careers. Struff holds the only match benefit, profitable their Spherical of 32 conflict at Metz in 2014. Milos Raonic is the second participant Lajovic will face, with the Canadian seeking to avenge his loss to Lajovic in Rome final yr. Each gamers have a single victory over their opponent, Raonic rising victorious at Cincinnati in 2018.
Filip Krajinovic:
Solely 5 rating spots decrease than teammate Dusan Lajovic, Filip Krajinovic shall be making his ATP Cup debut. The Serbian missed out final yr to Nikola Milojević, who subsequently will miss this years event.
The Serbian began the 2020 season efficiently. He misplaced to Roger Federer in straight units on the Australian Open however recovered to make consecutive semifinals in Montpellier and Rotterdam. The World No.31 misplaced to Gael Monfils each instances, however recorded a shock victory towards Andrey Rublev. The Russian would get his revenge earlier than the tennis paused, beating Krajinovic in Dubai. The season restarted and Krajinovic obtained his greatest win of the yr–a shock upset knocking out World No.3 Dominic Thiem in Cincinnati. He would fall quick on the quarter finals to Milos Raonic. Krajinovic would go on to achieve the Spherical of 32 on the US Open earlier than dropping to teammate Novak Djokovic on the World No.1’s path to a thirty sixth Masters 1000 title. He rounded out the yr failing to win a match on the subsequent 4 main occasions, together with a second loss to Djokovic in Vienna.
Krajinovic on the 2021 ATP Cup:
The doubles groups for the group phases of the ATP Cup haven’t been introduced but, however with no recognised pairing amongst the Serbia roster, its anyones guess who may line up towards Germany and Canada. Steven Diez represents Canada as their third participant, presently ranked 178 on the earth. Kevin Krawietz makes up Germany third participant, forming the doubles partnership with Andreas Mies. The 2 have received successive Grand Slam titles, capturing the French Open doubles title in 2019 and 2020 – the primary of which as an unseeded pair.
Nikola Cacic:
The fourth member of the Serbia group is World No.1353 Nikola Cacic, extra generally recognized for his ventures within the doubles circuit. The Serbian received three of 4 doubles matches on the 2020 ATP Cup alongside present captain Viktor Troicki earlier than substituting for Novak Djokovic within the ultimate. With a singles excessive rating of No.281, Cacic primarily excursions the ATP Challenger circuit, however has two ATP Tour doubles titles to his identify. The primary got here with teammate Dusan Lajovic in Chengdu earlier than a win within the finals of the Open Sud De France with Croatian Mate Pavic.
Cacic on the 2021 ATP Cup:
The Serbian represents the fourth participant of the nation’s line up, placing him in line for a collection of doubles appearances on the event. Canada has Peter Polansky as their fourth participant–the first player in tennis history to qualify for all 4 Slams as a “Fortunate Loser.” Andreas Mies kinds a really sturdy doubles pair for Germany alongside teammate Krawietz, profitable two French Open titles with out dropping a match at Roland Garros.
Major Picture:
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