ATP Cup: Serbia well ahead thanks to Novak Djokovic
24 nations are playing for the ATP Cup for the first time before the Australian Open 2020. Thanks to the top players, the teams in the top ten of the ATP world rankings are almost already qualified.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jun 12, 2019, 01:12 pm
At the beginning of 2020, the ATP Cup will be held for the first time in three Australian cities - a team competition not unlike the new final mode in the Davis Cup. The qualification criteria for this are quite simple: 24 nations are starting, the best player in a country is primarily responsible for participation. In addition, at least two other actors in a country must have an ATP ranking. A hurdle that all teams in question will be able to overcome. The first deadline for the qualification is mid-September, then the 18 best nations can book their tickets for Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.
The current ranking of the teams basically reflects the ATP world ranking: Thanks to Novak Djokovic, Serbia leads with a superior lead over Spain with top man Rafael Nadal. Then the Swiss would actually follow with Roger Federer, who has not yet made a binding announcement as to whether he will even take part in the ATP Cup. The Confederates are not represented in the Davis Cup final in November - although Federer would certainly not have played there.
Preferential treatment thanks to Andy Murray?
In fact, ATP UK entered the grid in third place with a protected ranking. Preferential treatment based on Andy Murray's services. And not unlike the procedure at the ITF: Great Britain also received a wild card for the final tournament in the Davis Cup (as did Argentina). The coming weeks will show whether Murray will be operational at all.
Austria will have its place in the ATP Cup just as safely as Germany. Dominic Thiem has already explained that he sees Dennis Novak as the second man to be set, in the doubles the experienced players Oliver Marach and Jürgen Melzer would offer themselves, who have recently started hunting for points on the ATP tour. Alexander Zverev, on the other hand, is very inclined to appear in Australia. And, like Thiem, he is also the number one in his country and may choose the team captain.