The ATP Cup kicks off on the strongest possible note on Tuesday, with several match-ups that would not be out of place deep in the second week of a Grand Slam tournament.
Four ties will be staged across Rod Laver Arena and John Cain Arena as the star-studded team competition returns following an exciting debut in 2020.
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The world’s top four singles players will all take to the court on Tuesday, facing quality opposition in clashes that promise to deliver plenty.
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We dissect those four must-see matches at Melbourne Park.
Novak Djokovic v Denis Shapovalov
(Serbia v Canada/Rod Laver Arena/from 10am)
World No.1 Djokovic leads defending champion Serbia into battle, playing on his favourite court in the world. That might seem a daunting prospect for 12th-ranked Shapovalov, but the 21-year-old lefty is pumped up for the task of taking on the 17-time major champion.
“I had a great match against him last year (at the ATP Cup in Sydney). I feel confident. I feel like I'm playing really good tennis in practice,” said the Canadian, who reached a career-high ranking of No.10 in September.
“It's really fun to be back out here playing, competing, especially with this group of guys. It's events like this that I enjoy the most. I'm really excited.”
Djokovic leads the head-to-head series 5-0, including last year’s pulsating 4-6 6-1 7-6(4) victory at the ATP Cup.
Dominic Thiem v Matteo Berrettini
(Austria v Italy/John Cain Arena/from 10am)
In a clash between top-10 stars, reigning US Open champion Thiem, a finalist at AO 2020, takes on Berrettini, a US Open semifinalist in 2019. The two big-hitting talents have split four career meetings, with Berrettini winning two of the past three.
“Towards the end of 2019 we had three amazing matches in deep stages of big tournaments, high quality. Looking forward to play him again,” world No.3 Thiem said on Monday.
“We have a very good relationship, always fun matches against each other. But he's a big, big player, so I'm also not too happy that he's the first guy I have to face in a new year after quite a while without an official match.”
Rafael Nadal v Alex de Minaur
(Spain v Australia/Rod Laver Arena/from 5.30pm)
The two men met in a spectacular clash at Ken Rosewall Arena during last year’s ATP Cup semifinals, a match Nadal eventually won 4-6 7-5 6-1. It was De Minaur’s best performance against the Spaniard, after Nadal dismissed him in straight sets at Wimbledon 2018 and Australian Open 2019.
Second-ranked Nadal remembers that ATP Cup match well. “Not great for me, but emotional one, yes,” he said on Sunday.
“(De Minaur is) young, he's improving every year. He has lot of things amazing. I think going to be a tough battle for all of us playing against a great team like Australia.”
Daniil Medvedev v Diego Schwartzman
(Russia v Argentina/John Cain Arena/from 5.30pm)
World No.4 Medvedev carries a 10-match winning streak into his clash against Schwartzman after winning both the Paris Masters and ATP Finals to close 2020. At both of those tournaments, Schwartzman was one of Medvedev’s victims, seeing him improve his head-to-head record against the Argentine to 5-0.
“I'm not very happy to start against Daniil,” laughed Schwartzman, the world No.9.
“I finished last year against him. It's going to be tough tomorrow because he's playing his best. For me it's also a good preparation, good first match. I think I have more chances in the first match of the year than maybe when he take rhythm. He's one of the best right now on tour.”