ATP Finals: The Davis Cup casts small shadows ahead
Most of the players involved in the ATP Finals can say goodbye to the short off-season by Sunday at the latest. For a few, the Davis Cup final round in Málaga is still waiting next week.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Nov 19, 2022, 01:41 pm
By Jens Huiber from Turin
Thursday evening was long and ultimately unpleasant for the only Canadian journalist who was at the start of the ATP Finals in Turin herself. Félix Auger-Aliassime had an entertaining fight with Taylor Fritz, the Canadian number one did not show up for the press conference before one in the morning. Auger-Aliassime survived in Turin, as did the reporter from Montréal.
The transatlantic business trip will continue in Málaga, where the Canadians will meet the German team. With Félix Auger-Aliassime as the top player. And with a Denis Shapovalov, who should come to Spain quite relaxed: As highlighted on social media, Shapovalov has put in a few days of vacation in the Maldives. So that it doesn't get too boring, friend Mirjam Björklund was there too.
Sonego trains in Turin
The Davis Cup is not a big topic in Turin, but then Auger-Aliassime is not the only professional who still has a week of competition ahead of him. Taylor Fritz, for example, is said to lead the US team. Against Italy, which first has to deal with Jannik Sinner's cancellation. And the fact that Matteo Berrettini has not been able to play a match since his final defeat in Naples against Lorenzo Musetti. Speaking of Musetti: he showed up in Turin earlier this week, it was probably just a courtesy visit. It's different with Lorenzo Sonego: He's training hard here, you never know if he'll be needed in Málaga.
And otherwise? Doubles ace Wesley Koolhof will reinforce the Netherlands against Australia. And there maybe, as in Turin, meet Thanasi Kokkinakis. The Croatian super duo Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic should get the coals out of the fire against Spain. The Spaniards have only three men at the moment, one of them is Marcel Granollers, who was eliminated at the ATP Finals alongside Horacio Zeballos with three defeats.
Otherwise, all Turin participants can ride away into the off-season. Which is somewhat surprising in the case of Rajeev Ram. But USA team boss Mardy Fish has decided against Ram and for Jack Sock as the best option for his side.