PREVIEW | 2022 ATP CUP
Italy may be the team to beat in Sydney as the new season kicks off
The third edition of the ATP Cup arrives in a space remarkably similar to 12 months ago. Covid-19 continues to traverse the globe, disrupting the plans of players, organisers and fans.
There have already been a spate of withdrawals for the event including world no.1 Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andrey Rublev. Nadal and Rublev both tested positive for coronavirus after an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi while no one seems to know where Djokovic will spend the month of January.
Overwhelmed with glum news of late, at least there is some action to look forward to in Sydney. Seven of the ATP's top 10 will take part in the international team competition with world no.2 Daniil Medvedev the highest-ranked.
For those unfamiliar with the format:
This year's event will take place on the hard courts of two venues in Sydney: the Ken Rosewall Arena and the Qudos Bank Arena. There will be spectators but all attending must show proof of vaccination or exemption.
Russia beat Italy 2-0 in last year's final to claim its first ATP Cup.
Group A
Serbia Norway Chile Spain
Shorn of both Djokovic and Nadal, some of the lustre has come off this group. However, I feel that Serbia will suffer more from the loss of its talisman than Spain.
Dusan Lahovic is a fine player but the Spanish will field five top 60 players here including stalwarts Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta.
As for Norway and Chile, too much will be asked of their respective star singles players Casper Ruud and Cristian Garin. I think Spain will pip this one.
Group B
Russia Italy France Australia
This looked a super group on paper but a severely weakened Russian team, and the last-minute entry of France, has dampened expectations.
As brilliant as he is, Daniil Medvedev cannot win the ATP Cup without help. This time around, the US Open champion cannot call on Andrey Rublev, Aslan Karatsev or Karen Khachanov. It would be remarkable if Russia topped the group.
After the withdrawals of Dominic Thiem and Denis Novak, Austria were replaced with France in the competition. The French look vulnerable here. Without Gael Monfils available, Ugo Humbert leads the team.
This group looks to be between a solid Aussie team and the outrageously talented Italians. Alex de Minaur, James Duckworth, John Peers and Luke Saville are part of a resilient home side. Italy meanwhile can call on the riches of Matteo Berrettini, Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Sonego, Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini.
Group C
Germany Canada Great Britain United States
This group could surprise although I would expect either Germany or the UK to top it.
The ever-reliable Alexander Zverev is the platform for a German side that also contains a superb doubles pair in Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz. As for the British team, it features another outstanding partnership in Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury plus Cam Norrie and Dan Evans.
Canada are entirely reliant on singles superstars Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov but it's unclear what condition the latter will be in after contracting Covid-19 recently.
The US has an interesting blend of experience (John Isner, Rajeev Ram) and youth (Taylor Fritz, Brandon Nakashima) but are they good enough to trouble the Europeans?
Group D
Greece Poland Argentina Georgia
Spearheaded by Diego Schwartzmann, Argentina's team contains three singles players in the top 65 and two in the top 50 doubles. The South Americans are the most balanced team in the group and I think they will do the job.
Beyond them, Poland will probably be the best challenger as it can call on world no.9 Hubert Hurkacz and a decent doubles pair in Jan Zielinski and Szymon Walkow.
Much like Medvedev, there's only so much Stefanos Tsitsipas can do for his country without a strong enough supporting cast. As for Georgia, beyond Nikoloz Basilashvili, it has no players in the top 500 of either singles or doubles.
Where It's On
If you're in the UK or Ireland, the 2022 ATP Cup will be shown on Amazon Prime from January 1-9.
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