Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal to headline 2021 ATP Cup
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Twelve countries will battle for the trophy in Melbourne.
The field is set for the 2021 ATP Cup, slated to be held from 1-5 February in Melbourne. Twelve countries will battle for the prestigious team trophy, with 2020 finalists Serbia and Spain leading the way.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and World No. 2 Rafael Nadal will headline the event as the top-ranked singles players for Serbia and Spain, respectively. In 2020, Serbia defeated Spain 2-1 in a thrilling championship clash, which included a tantalising match-up between Djokovic and Nadal.
Reigning ATP Finals champion Daniil Medvedev headlines Russia’s team alongside fellow Top 10 star Andrey Rublev and World No. 3 Dominic Thiem will try to take Austria to glory. The 2021 ATP Cup will feature 14 of the Top 15 players in the ATP Rankings. Each team will consist of four players per country.
Qualification for the tournament is based on the Ranking of each country’s top-ranked singles player, while Australia qualifies by virtue of a host wild card. Alex de Minaur, who earned two Top 15 wins at last year’s inaugural edition of the competition, will once again lead the way for Australia.
ATP Cup Managing Director Ross Hutchins said, "Playing as a team, for one’s country, is a rare privilege in tennis which brings the best out of our players. This was highlighted by the incredible matches and camaraderie on display at last year’s inaugural ATP Cup."
"We would like to thank our partners, Tennis Australia, for their dedication and commitment to staging this year’s tournament, which promises to deliver a strong start to the new 2021 season. We cannot wait for tennis fans around the world to again share in the excitement and energy of this special event."
Tournament Director Tom Larner remarked, "Last year we launched the global tennis season with the inaugural ATP Cup. It was a huge success with both players and fans, and we are excited to present the second edition in Melbourne in 2021. 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. This is a format that shows off the passion of the players and we’re expecting some spectacular tennis action."
The tournament will take place at Melbourne Park alongside two ATP 250 events, with the three competitions being held the week before the Australian Open. The draw will take place on 20 January, when the 12 teams will be divided into four groups of three for the group stage, round-robin play. The four group winners will advance to the semi-finals.
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