BATTLE OF THE CUPS
How does the ATP Cup compare to the revamped Davis Cup?
NO. OF TEAMS
24 in the ATP Cup with 18 at the Davis Cup finals. Total of 133 at Davis Cup if all stages counted
VENUES
ATP Cup in the Australian cities of Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Davis Cup finals in Madrid, with qualifiying ties around the world
DATES
ATP Cup over 10 days from Jan. 3-12, 2020 while Davis Cup finals over seven days from Nov. 18-24, 2019. Main qualifiying ties for Davis Cup took place in February, with other ties in April and September
BACKING
ATP Cup backed by, no surprise, the ATP while Davis Cup backed by rival governing body, the International Tennis Federation
QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
At ATP Cup, countries qualify based on ATP ranking of their highest-ranked singles player in September the previous year. For example, since Novak Djokovic is ranked no. 1 this month, his country Serbia qualifies. 18 qualifiers decided this month, with remaining six decided in November. For Davis Cup, 18 teams at finals comprised of 12 qualifiers, four semi-finalists from 2018 and two wild card entries.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
ATP Cup has 24 teams split into six groups of four, with six group winners and two best runners-up going through to quarter-finals. Davis Cup finals has 18 teams split into six groups of three, with six group winners and two best runners-up into quarter-finals.
TIE FORMAT
Ties at ATP Cup and Davis Cup finals consist of two singles matches and one doubles match. Some qualification ties in Davis Cup remain five-match affairs.
MATCH FORMAT
Matches in both cups played in best-of-three-set format
ORDER OF PLAY
At ATP Cup, two singles matches are followed by a doubles match. 2nd-ranked singles players play each other first, followed by top-ranked players. Doubles match played even if a tie decided after two matches. Davis Cup finals ties also have two singles matches followed by doubles.
RANKING POINTS
Singles player winning all matches at ATP Cup can add 750 points to rankings points. No ranking points on offer in Davis Cup.
PRIZE MONEY
$15 million at ATP Cup with $20 million at Davis Cup