Djokovic and Nadal headline ATP Cup
World No.1 Novak Djokovic and second-ranked Rafael Nadal will headline a slimmed-down field at the coronavirus-hit ATP Cup, organisers said yesterday, with the tournament cut in half to 12 teams.
The i nnovative championship debuted across three Australian cities — Perth, Brisbane and Sydney — in January last year with 24 nations split into six groups ahead of a finals series.
Djokovic’s Serbia emerged triumphant, overpowering Nadal’s Spain to win the inaugural title.
But the onslaught of Covid-19 forced a radical change to how the 2021 season will look, with the Australian Open pushed back three weeks to Feb 8.
Players will arrive in Australia from Jan 15 and undergo a mandatory two-week quarantine before the ATP Cup is held alongside two WTA 500 and two ATP 250 events, all in Melbourne in the week leading into the Grand Slam.
Teams’ qualified for the ATP Cup based on men’s singles rankings, with Austria, Russia, Greece, Germany, Argentina, Italy, Japan, France and Canada also making the grade.
Australia were included as host nation, but without showman Nick Kyrgios, who was not on the team sheet.
All of the world’s top 10 players will take part, except Roger Federer who has pulled out of the Australian Open for the first time in his career as he continues his recovery from two rounds of knee surgery.
ATP Finals champion Daniil Medvedev headlines a strong Russian team alongside fellow top 10 star Andrey Rublev, while world No.3 Dominic Thiem will try to take Austria to glory.
“The players are looking forward to stepping up and representing their countries again, and the field, including defending champions Serbia and finalists Spain, is strong,” said tournament director Tom Larner.
“This is a format that shows off the passion of the players and we’re expecting some spectacular tennis action.”
The 12 teams will be divided into four groups of three with the winners of each group contesting the knockouts and the four remaining progressing to the semi-finals.
Each tie will comprise two singles matches and one doubles. The draw will be made on Jan 20 ahead of the tournament starting on Feb 1.
QUARANTINE HOTEL
Australian Open organisers were forced to find new quarantine accommodation for players yesterday after a hotel pulled out, reportedly because of concerns from residents.
Organisers of the year’s first Grand Slam confirmed they had secured new hotel accommodation after Melbourne’s The Westin cancelled plans to house tennis players during two weeks of quarantine ahead of the tournament.
“Several hotels in Melbourne have already been secured, including a replacement for the Westin, to safely accommodate the international playing group,” organisers said in a statement.
Local media reported that a legal threat from several permanent residents in the luxury hotel had scuppered the plan to host players there.
The news comes 10 days before the first players are expected to arrive in the city.
The start of the opening Grand Slam of 2021 has already been delayed until Feb 8, to allow players to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.