Tuesday 31 December 2019

Great Britain captain Tim Henman hails Dan Evans comeback from drugs ban ahead of ATP Cup



Tim Henman will captain Dan Evans and his Great Britain team-mates at the ATP Cup.

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Why is Roger Federer not playing in the ATP Cup? Reason for absence explained



The inaugural ATP Cup gets underway on January 3.

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Team Great Britain's Thrilling 'Change-Up' On Sydney Harbour

Team Great Britain spends plenty of time together throughout the year, from going to dinners to watching football matches. But on Wednesday afternoon, they enjoyed a special group experience, going for an hour-long boat ride on Sydney Harbour before getting down to business at the inaugural ATP Cup.

Captain Tim Henman, Daniel Evans, Cameron Norrie, James Ward, Joe Salisbury and Jamie Murray all took their phones out as soon as they arrived at the harbour, taking in the great views before bonding on the boat.

“It’s such a great city and you know you’ve got a lot of iconic features with the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House,” Henman said. “It really is a beautiful city and it’s great to be back.”

Team Great Britain

The group posed for plenty of pictures as the boat passed under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with some members of the team marvelling at people who were climbing the iconic landmark. They stepped around to the front of the boat to lounge and check out the rest of the Sydney skyline, including Sydney Opera House.

“It’s a great change-up. It’s nice to be here,” Ward said. “I love coming to Australia every year and obviously a new event and representing your country is always a special thing and hopefully we’ll have a lot of fun this week.”

Team Great Britain will begin its ATP Cup efforts on Friday evening at 530pm local time against Team Bulgaria. The other countries competing in Group C are Belgium and Moldova, with the winner automatically advancing to the Final Eight, also taking place in Sydney.



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ATP Cup: 5 Countries To Watch In Doubles

A doubles match will wrap up each tie at the ATP Cup and could play a crucial role in determining which country leaves with the trophy, making it imperative that the world’s best doubles players are in top form from the first ball.

ATPTour.com looks at five countries that could be dominant in doubles during the 10-day event. Team captains decide which players will pair up and the official doubles lineups for each tie are still to be determined.

Germany (Kevin Krawietz & Andreas Mies)
 Krawietz/Mies produced the biggest doubles surprise of 2019 by storming through the Roland Garros draw as an unseeded duo for their first Grand Slam title (d. Chardy/Martin). The German pair also lifted tour-level crowns in Long Island (d. Gonzalez/Qureshi) and Antwerp (d. Ram/Salisbury), reached the semi-finals at the US Open and qualified for their maiden appearance at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in London.

France (Nicolas Mahut & Edouard Roger-Vasselin)
 Mahut and Roger-Vasselin enjoyed success together and with other partners this past season. They prevailed in Tokyo (d. Mektic/Skugor) to earn their seventh ATP Tour team doubles title.

Roger-Vasselin also won in Montpellier (w/Dodig), Lyon (w/Dodig) and Stockholm (w/Kontinen). Meanwhile, Mahut teamed with fellow Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert to complete their Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open (d. Kontinen/Peers). They ended the year with titles at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris (d. Khachanov/Rublev) and the season finale in London (d. Klaasen/Venus).

 

Croatia (Ivan Dodig & Nikola Mektic)
 After prevailing with Roger-Vasselin in Montpellier and Lyon, Dodig enjoyed a remarkable second half of 2019 with Slovakian Filip Polasek. One month after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals, they won their first Masters 1000 team title in Cincinnati (d. Cabal/Farah). The pair followed up with a trophy in Beijing (d. Kubot/Melo) and eventually qualified for the season finale in London.

Mektic proved his versatility by enjoying success with multiple partners. He won his first two Masters 1000 crowns in Indian Wells (w/Zeballos) and Monte-Carlo (w/Skugor), in addition to taking the title in Sofia (w/Melzer).

Great Britain (Jamie Murray & Joe Salisbury)
 Salisbury looks to build on his breakout season with American Rajeev Ram. They earned titles this past year in Dubai (d. McLachlan/Struff) and Vienna (d. Kubot/Melo) to help clinch their spot in the season-ending championships, marking Salisbury's maiden appearance at The O2 in London.

Murray, a two-time men's doubles Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 player in the ATP Doubles Rankings, is still one of the most dangerous competitors on Tour. His consistent 2019 season included prevailing in Sydney and finishing runner-up in Barcelona (both w/Soares), in addition to semi-final showings at the US Open (w/N. Skupski) and Masters 1000 events in Monte-Carlo, Cincinnati and Shanghai.

United States (Rajeev Ram & Austin Krajicek)
 Ram’s stellar year with Salisbury brought the 35-year-old into his third appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals. Krajicek also produced another solid season in 2019. Shortly after reaching the Acapulco final with Kiwi Artem Sitak (l. to Zverev/Zverev), he enjoyed success with Brit Dominic Inglot. The pair triumphed in ’s-Hertogenbosch (d. Daniell/Koolhof) and Atlanta (d. Bryan/Bryan), and also advanced to the final in Los Cabos (l. to Arneodo/Nys).



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Happy New Year! Thiem, Medvedev & Wawrinka Ring In 2020

The biggest names on the ATP Tour are gearing up to begin the 2020 season, but took time to enjoy New Year’s Eve festivities from across the globe. Check out the celebrations and well-wishes on social media from your favourite players.

Dominic Thiem is kicking off 2020 by leading Team Austria at the ATP Cup. They'll aim to get past Argentina, Poland and Croatia in Group E.

Daniil Medvedev brought 2019 to a close in Perth with the rest of Team Russia. They'll begin their quest for the ATP Cup trophy against Italy, United States and Norway in Group D.

Stan Wawrinka will start his year as the top seed at the Qatar ExxonMobll Open in Doha.

Kei Nishikori made time to greet his fans as he eyes a return to action at the Australian Open.

Borna Coric is enjoying his time in Sydney with Team Croatia. He'll begin his ATP Cup campaign on Saturday against Austria.

Jamie Murray celebrated by watching the fireworks in Sydney. He'll team up with Joe Salisbury as Great Britain takes on Belgium, Bulgaria and Moldova in Group C at the ATP Cup.

Fernando Verdasco enjoyed another successful year on the court, but his most memorable moment came off the court with the birth of his first child. The Spaniard begins the new season in Doha.

Team Serbia captain Nenad Zimonjic had a great view to watch the fireworks in Brisbane. Serbia battles South Africa, France and Chile in Group A at the ATP Cup.



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Tsitsipas, Greece Ready To Feel The Love From Greek Fans In Brisbane

Team Greece, led by World No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas, celebrated New Year's Eve on Tuesday with its biggest and most loyal Brisbane fans ahead of the ATP Cup.

Greece, which kicks off the inaugural 24-team competition at 10 a.m. on Friday against Canada, visited Nostimo, a Greek restaurant and bar at The Greek Club, which is the centre of Greek life in Brisbane. The club includes the city's Greek community centre and is next door to the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George.

Tsitsipas, along with teammates Michail Pervolarakis, Markos Kalovelonis, brother Petros Tsitsipas, Alexandros Skorilas and captain/father Apostolos Tsitsipas, mingled with future ATP Cup attendees, sipped a self-inspired martini and looked ahead to 2020. Greece is in Group F with Canada, Germany and Australia.

“We have started very well. We have been putting ourselves to work on the court with the rest of the team. Our chemistry seems to work really well,” Stefanos Tsitsipas said. “I am really proud to represent Greece in this competition for the very first time. We just met the locals from Greece that live here in Brisbane. For us, it is something of huge importance to have people that we really feel connected with and they are going to come and support us. I think that is what is going to make this event so special.”

Greeks are passionate sporting fans and have large communities throughout Australia, as Tsitsipas felt last year during his maiden Grand Slam semi-final run at the Australian Open in Melbourne. It's an advantage the team hopes to have at full effect in Brisbane.

“With Greeks, [passion and energy] is in the culture. We feel very connected to one another. It is almost like a family. They put a lot of energy in when they are out on the court chanting and giving their best for us. It just feels good to be Greek. There are so many benefits that I can take from that,” Tsitsipas said.

Kalovelonis added: “The fans are passionate. I hope they will support. I think they will support, because they are always coming to Australia to support the Greek players.”

The team certainly felt plenty of love at Nostimo. Kostas Manekas, the restaurant manager, created a martini to honour Tsitsipas' 2019 season, which saw him win three titles, including the Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 in London, and finish at a year-end ATP Ranking of No. 6.

“We wanted to celebrate with you,” Manekas said. “We came up with a recipe that we hope represents you as an individual.”

The drink features ouzo, a popular liquor in Greece; an olive branch, to represent victory; vodka, because of Tsitsipas' mother's Russian heritage; and limoncello, which gives the drink a yellow tint.

“Well thought, well thought,” Tsitsipas said when he learned of the vodka inclusion.

As Manekas' creativity shows, the Greek community stands ready to do everything they can to support their country in Brisbane.

“Opportunities like this don't necessarily come around all that often, and the opportunity here with the ATP Cup is something that the whole of the youth of Greek Australians here in Brisbane are going to absolutely love. We'll be coming in hordes,” said Laki Keramidas, vice president of the Greek Orthodox Youth Association in Brisbane. “You'll be able to hear us in the crowd, that's for sure.”

Greece qualified for the ATP Cup because of Tsitsipas' ranking, and he, along with his father, knows that Greece's fate in Brisbane will be significantly aided if the 21-year-old can get off to a good start in their matches.

But that's not to say everything is riding on Tsitsipas. With some of the most passionate fans in the world and the benefit of youth on their team – their oldest player is 25 – Greece is ready to show the world how they can play.

“Stef is going to play an important role to raise the level. It is the team spirit that counts at the end, and I think obviously that is an important thing,” Apostolos Tsitsipas said. “[The Greek fans] are going to be our extra support all these days... I think it is going to be important to be next to their players.”



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Team Croatia Takes In Tamarama Waves, Prepare To Storm Into ATP Cup

Marin Cilic took his first step down the stairs onto Tamarama Beach on Tuesday in Sydney. The former World No. 3 is working hard in preparation for the inaugural ATP Cup, and he was excited to join his countrymen for a quick outing at the beach before play begins on 3 January.

“Tough day at the office,” Cilic said, cracking a smile as he looked out at the magnificent sea setting from above.

Cilic, Borna Coric, Ivan Dodig, Nikola Mektic and Viktor Galovic visited with the Tamarama Surf Lifesaving Club to learn what it takes to look after the public swimming in the crystal blue water off the beach.

“I’m going to be the life saver. I’m going to save you,” Coric said.

“I’d like to be saved,” Mektic said, eliciting plenty of laughter from Team Croatia.

Team Croatia visits Tamarama Beach in Sydney ahead of the ATP Cup.

That is what is making the ATP Cup special — players who typically play for themselves becoming one, enjoying the unity that this 24-team event provides.

As the Croats — who launch their campaign on Saturday evening against Team Austria — stepped out onto a set of boulders high above the scene to take some photos, passersby quickly gathered, with some Croatian tennis fans stopping to ask the stars for pictures.

“Obviously we are really happy to be here,” said Team Croatia captain Luka Kutanjac. “It’s a great new event that the ATP is really trying to promote and to keep it going. It’s always fun to have teammates together.”

The players then descended to the sand, with some choosing to go for a swim in the Sydney heat. It was a perfect time to cool off, with the competition about to start heating up.



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Dimitrov & Team Bulgaria: 'We're Going To Try To Take It All In'

Team Bulgaria’s No. 1 player and captain Grigor Dimitrov, who made the Sydney final in 2016, visited Sydney Harbour Bridge on Monday evening, posting pictures on social media. “I love that city,” he wrote in an Instagram story post.

The 28-year-old was still blown away by the setting when he arrived at the North Sydney Pool — which is right under the bridge — on Tuesday afternoon with the rest of his team: Dimitar Kuzmanov, Alexandar Lazarov, Alexander Donski and Adrian Andreev.

“We’re just having a day off today and we’re going to try to take it all in, enjoy it and welcome 2020,” Dimitrov said.

Grigor Dimitrov dives into North Sydney Pool.

The Bulgarians had plenty of fun, practising various jumps into the pool and going for a swim. The ATP Cup is a unique opportunity for some of the team’s players who have not previously been to Sydney to not only compete in an inaugural 24-team event with the best players in the world, but to enjoy a memorable experience, too.

“I cannot hide that I’m super-excited. It’s the very first time here for me in Sydney and Australia as well,” Kuzmanov said. “It’s not a bad start of the year at all. Perfect weather. New continent, new country, great mood and also perfect organisation and great team spirit.”

Andreev is the youngest player on Team Bulgaria, and he too has never been to Sydney, only competing in the Australian Open juniors. And not only is he excited for the ATP Cup, but also to spend quality time with the best players from his country and continue building their relationships.

“It’s awesome to be here. It’s going to be a really good challenge and it’s going to be great to see the competition and just enjoy playing or watching the matches and just support my country,” Andreev said. “It will be really awesome.”

Fireworks will line the skies over Sydney as the clock strikes midnight marking 1 January, but Team Bulgaria will look to create more fireworks as the competition begins, attempting to advance through Group C to reach the Final Eight.

Team Bulgaria's first match will be on Friday against Team Great Britain at 5:30pm local time.



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Auger-Aliassime, Monfils Name 2020 New Year's Resolutions

ATP Tour players didn't wait until 2020 to craft their New Year's resolutions. On the last day of 2019, members of Team Canada, Team France, Team Greece and Team Serbia had already planned out their goals for 2020.

Canada's top two singles players in Brisbane, Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime, both have high hopes for 2020.

“My goal for 2020 is just to keep improving and enjoying myself and enjoying my lifestyle and my tennis. I just want to wish all the fans, everybody around the world a happy New Year,” Shapovalov said.

Auger-Aliassime, similarly, kept things simple when discussing his 2020 resolutions. “For my part, maybe I don't have a one-year resolution but I want to win matches, keep having fun and enjoy myself,” Auger-Aliassime said.

Canada will kick off the 2020 ATP Tour season at 10 a.m. Friday in Brisbane against Team Greece, which is led by Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion wants to add more humour into his life this next decade. “My New Year's resolution is to text more and be more funny,” Tsitsipas said.

France's Gael Monfils and Benoit Paire of Team France have more personal resolutions in mind, even if they might still make you laugh.

“My resolution for me this year is quite easy, shave myself. A good trim for me actually. That was personal. And definitely be on time, that's for my coach,” Monfils said.

Paire responded, “That's important, because when we play FIFA you are often late because you know you are going to lose. So be on time next time.

“For me, just enjoy life. Enjoy to be on court. Enjoy with the fans. I think it's important. That's my resolution for next year.”

Enjoy life. It's what Viktor Troicki of Serbia, and likely every ATP Cup player, will want to do in 2020 as well.

“My New Year's resolution is to stay healthy this year, to hopefully come back in Top 100,” Troicki said. “And just enjoy tennis for a couple more years I hope.”



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Video : ATP Tour | 2010 - 2019 | In Review

ATP Tour | 2010 - 2019 | In Review
ATP Tour: 2010 - 2019 Too many great memories to fit into one video, but we tried our best 😉 What was your favourite moment from the decade? SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/2dj6EhW WEBSITE: http://www.atptour.com/ FACEBOOK: https://ift.tt/2T3aGl9 TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ATP_Tour INSTAGRAM: https://ift.tt/2IoGZGP RADIO: http://bit.ly/2Dictrm PODCAST: http://bit.ly/2NilRRn About the Official ATP Tour YouTube Channel: Here you will find the latest videos from the ATP Tour, including hot shots, highlights, behind the scenes footage, documentaries and more. The ATP Tour showcases the best of the best, competing in 63 tournaments across 4 surfaces, all to be No. 1. Find all the action from on and off the court right here.


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Medvedev, Khachanov & Safin Lose Out To Kids On Perth Beach

Team Russia hit Cottesloe Beach in Perth on Tuesday morning ahead of the inaugural ATP Cup, which begins on 3 January. Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov and captain Marat Safin took the 12-kilometre trip from the RAC Arena to a popular family destination in the west of Perth.

The Russians spoke to Phil Curtis of the North Cottesloe Surf Club and joined Surf Life Saving nippers (junior lifesavers) from across the city in races running from the water.

“We lost to the kids, we didn’t expect that,” said Khachanov. “We thought we could be faster, but it wasn’t true.” Medvedev said, “They may be faster on the beach, but hopefully we’re faster on a tennis court. Otherwise, we’re in big trouble!”

Medvedev, Safin, Khachanov

Team Russia, who arrived in Perth on 28 December, features in Group D action alongside the United States, Italy and Norway. Spain, Japan, Georgia and Uruguay compete in Group B, also at the 14,000-seater RAC Arena stadium.

“[Daniil and Karen] are in great shape,” said former World No. 1 Safin. “I think we have a chance to win, but I’m not sure about it after losing to the kids. We have great potential to do well, a great team and guys helping to make us closer together.”

Medvedev added, “This tournament is so important to see how you’re playing after the pre-season. Every new tournament is different, but I know when I play good I can win some matches.”

For latest tournament information, live scores, group standings and more, visit ATPCup.com.



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Monday 30 December 2019

Meet The 2020 ATP Cup Countries

The world's best players are all gearing up to kick off the new year at the inaugural ATP Cup, held throughout Australia from 3-12 January. Learn more about the 24 competing countries and the players looking to lead their team to victory.

2020 ATP Cup Teams
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Croatia
France
Georgia
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Italy
Japan
Moldova
Norway
Poland
Russia
Serbia
Spain
South Africa
United States
Uruguay



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Thiem Touches Down In Sydney For ATP Cup

An upbeat Dominic Thiem landed on Monday in Sydney as he looks to guide Team Austria to a memorable run at the ATP Cup.

Austria will battle Croatia (led by Borna Coric), Argentina (led by Diego Schwartzman) and Poland (led by Hubert Hurkacz) in Group F. Thiem lost to Hurkacz in their lone FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting this past March at the Miami Open presented by Itau, but holds winning records against Coric (3-1) and Schwartzman (5-2).

Thiem, No. 4 in the ATP Rankings, will hope to bring his inspired form from 2019 into the new year. He lifted five ATP Tour titles, including his first ATP Masters 1000 crown at the BNP Paribas Open (d. Federer), and finished runner-up at Roland Garros (l. to Nadal) and the Nitto ATP Finals (l. to Tsitsipas).

Austria begins their campaign on Saturday against Croatia.



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Ruud: Why Nadal's Academy & 'Intensity' Inspire Him

A productive off-season in Mallorca that included practice sessions with Rafael Nadal has left Casper Ruud feeling confident that he can reach even greater heights in 2020.

The 21-year-old will start the new year by leading Team Norway in the inaugural ATP Cup. They’ll face Russia, Italy and United States in Group D action in Perth.

Ruud spent two weeks in December at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar, his home base since September 2018. He’s quickly climbed up the ATP Rankings since moving to Spain and said the academy’s motivating environment has helped elevate his game.

“I always felt like I’ve played with good intensity in my game and I need it to play well, but I’ve gotten that extra 10 or 20 per cent from being there,” Ruud said. “That’s the small margin that can change whether you’re No. 10 [in the ATP Rankings] or No. 60. It’s not like they’ve changed my technique, but they’ve helped with all the strokes.

“It’s motivating to have Rafa there and even Toni [Nadal] coming to the practices and pushing you a bit more. You’re surrounded by very good players.”

The decision to uproot can be difficult for some, but Ruud saw training at Nadal's academy as a clear opportunity to boost his game. His family also realised what the move to Mallorca could provide and offered to join him for support.

“I had split with my coach [in February 2018] and was training at home with my dad [former World No. 39 Christian Ruud]. It can be good, but I need to get out sometimes and train with other good players. They asked me if I wanted to try it out and Rafa is one of my biggest idols, so I didn’t see a point in saying no,” Ruud said. “My mother, younger sister and father came down. My sister also started full-time at the academy, playing every day and going to school there.”

Ruud arrived in Mallorca 15 months ago with an ATP Ranking of No. 143, but currently sits at a career-high of No. 54. His 2019 highlights include reaching his maiden ATP Tour final in Houston (l. to Garin), beating Matteo Berrettini en route to a third-round showing at Roland Garros and qualifying for Milan.

The Norwegian believes he’s also benefitted from practising with Nadal and observing how the World No. 1 trains. The energy that the Spaniard brings to each practice has rubbed off on Ruud and added a new level of intensity to his game that could serve him well in Perth.

Casper Ruud

“If Rafa goes 100 per cent intensity in matches, he goes 120 per cent in a practice,” Ruud said. “He rips the ball so hard. He likes to play high-risk when he practises because it might be easier for him to slow down during a match if he needs to. That’s something which has been working for me as well. I’m trying to play a bit more loose during training, higher intensity, faster balls and working on things that you don’t dare to do in a match.

“When I practise with Rafa, he gets to push me around and I’m usually exhausted after a couple of hours. They’re tough sessions, but they’re great.”



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Video : When Andy Murray won Wimbledon

When Andy Murray won Wimbledon
When the 77-year wait ended, a country celebrated. Reliving a moment we'll always remember from this decade... This is the official Wimbledon YouTube page. The Championships 2020 will run from 29 June - 12 July. To keep up with Wimbledon throughout the year, visit wimbledon.com/mywimbledon


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Daniil Medvedev can 'take out' Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer at Aus Open



Daniil Medvedev enjoyed a sensational second half of 2019.

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Rafael Nadal provides fitness update ahead of Novak Djokovic battle in Australia



Rafael Nadal says he has arrived in Australia in good shape.

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Rafael Nadal coach makes confident statement over condition ahead of ATP Cup



The inaugural ATP Cup gets underway in Australia on January 3 with Rafael Nadal representing Spain.

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Sunday 29 December 2019

Goffin On Final Prep For ATP Cup: 'It's Something Big'

The start of the ATP Cup — and with it, the ATP Tour season — is just four days away, and players in Sydney are ramping up the intensity.

Several No. 1 players were practising on the grounds of the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre on Monday, fine-tuning their games in preparation for the start of the 24-country competition. 2017 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up David Goffin and former World No. 12 Borna Coric sparred on one court, with the likes of Bulgarian No. 1 and captain Grigor Dimitrov, Polish No. 1 Hubert Hurkacz and plenty of others hitting the courts in hot and humid conditions as well.

Goffin has long been excited for this new and innovative event, saying in October, “I’m very curious to see [it], that’s why I’m very excited. On paper it looks amazing. A great place, great stadiums, it looks really good. So I’m really excited to see and hopefully it will be a really nice event.”

The Belgian No. 1 is ecstatic not just to begin his season, but to try to make his country and teammates proud.

“For me it’s nice because you play another time for your country. It’s something that I like. I always love to represent Belgium and to play for friends, for the team, for Belgium,” Goffin said on Monday. “It’s great, and especially competition like that, a big one to start the year with a new format, it’s something big and we have a lot of great matches to start the season. I think it’s great.”

One of the highlights of the ATP Cup is that there are a maximum of 750 singles ATP Ranking points at stake and a maximum of 250 ATP Doubles Ranking points available.

“First of course you play for your country, and if at the end you have some ATP points, it’s great also for your [ATP] Ranking,” Goffin said. “So you will play every match and try to win every point, every game, to win some matches for your country.”

Belgium’s first match will be on Friday at 10am local time against Moldova. Goffin will face Moldovan No. 1 Radu Albot, against whom he owns a 3-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head advantage.



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ATP Cup To Showcase Innovations

Striking innovation will be a feature of the new ATP Cup, which will launch the global tennis season in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. 

Tennis team competition will be showcased like never before, bringing fans closer to the players, and behind-the-scenes coverage revealing strategy sessions, match analysis and team interaction on a whole new level. 

“The ATP Cup is set to launch the 2020 ATP season in a major way and the event is going to play a pioneering role in innovation in our sport,” ATP Cup Managing Director Ross Hutchins said. 

“This ground-breaking new tournament has given us the opportunity to take a fresh look and put the players and innovation first across multiple aspects of the event, including rules, technology, behind-the-scenes access, event production and more. The ATP Cup is set to shine a new and unique light on our sport for fans worldwide and we can’t wait for the action to get underway this week.”

Visit Official Website

The 24-country team event will take place from 3-12 January in partnership between the ATP and Tennis Australia.

“The ATP Cup will bring the fans and players closer together, and on a much bigger scale, than we’ve seen before in tennis,” ATP Cup Tournament Director Tom Larner said. 

“The passion, spirit and excitement of team competition, with the players and captains striving to win for their country, and each other, is at the heart of the ATP Cup. Capturing that essence, and delivering it to fans whether they are in the stadium, watching on TV or following on other platforms, will be a major point of difference. 

“The new team zones, positioned in the corners of the court, will bring a highly visible support team to each player, with the captain, players and even coaches, all working together to both cheer their player on, as well as providing detailed coaching advice. 

“Everything will be captured and delivered in real time to fans, both in-stadium and watching on TV and online, providing a totally new insight into some of the biggest personalities in the game.” 

Top 10 ATP Cup innovations: 

  1. Team Zones positioned in the corners of the court will bring the players closer to fans than ever before. 
    •  Team Zones replace player benches traditionally located by the umpire’s chair
    •  Equipped with access to real time statistics, data, insights and match vision, the captain, players and coaches can use an Athlete’s AI platform, and have the ability to bring up any points played according to specific match statistics at the touch of a button, as well as bookmark specific points for post-match analysis. 
    •  Each Team Zone can access ATP’s Second Screen, an advanced platform providing player and ball tracking data in real time.
  2. Strategy Rooms will give unprecedented access to match analysis and debriefing tools to captains and their teams 
  3. LED integrated Umpires Chair
  4. New canopy roof at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, hosting both the Group Stage and Final Eight, and elevating fan comfort and experience
  5. Video Review (VR) enables communication between Chair Umpires and VR operators and greater review capacity with six new and dedicated foot fault cameras
    •  VR is designed to assist with contentious officiating decisions such as double bounces, foul shots, touches or invasion. Following a previous trial at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, the ATP Cup will become the first FedEx ATP Rankings event in history to use VR.
  6. A total of USD $15 million in prize money is on offer, including a participation fee and prize money for both individual match wins and tie victories. The ATP Cup offers more prize money than any other ATP event on the calendar.
  7. Up to 750 FedEx ATP Ranking points are up for grabs for a successful player who is undefeated in all possible singles matches. Points are awarded for match wins in each round, with the number of points depending on the ranking of the opponent and the round of the result. 
    In doubles, an undefeated player who plays and wins all possible doubles matches will earn 250 FedEx ATP Rankings points.
  8. State-of-the-art production to capture behind-the-scenes footage and rare player access capturing the players’ team dynamics, ensuring unique content across social media and broadcast throughout the event.
  9. On court coaching is allowed for the team captain and competing players’ individual coaches, while fellow team members can assist with input during changeovers and set breaks. 
  10. Full court LED screens surrounding centre court in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney will heighten the in-stadium experience and provide a dynamic platform for entertainment, replays, reviews and stats.

For latest tournament information, live scores, group standings and more, visit ATPCup.com.



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Djokovic & Nadal: The Break-Back Kings

When the going gets tough, the tough break straight back.

Dropping serve is typically accompanied with an emotional letdown. But for some players, determination triumphs over disappointment and the desire to immediately break straight back helps them actually break serve more than they typically do.

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of the 2019 season identifies Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were in a class of their own breaking back immediately after being broken. In fact, both players broke back at a higher rate right after being broken than normal and were ranked in the top two this season in this specific category.

2019 Season: Breaking Serve Scenarios For Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic

Players

Breaking Straight Back

All Other Break Scenarios

N. Djokovic

37.23% (35/94)

31.05% (218/702)

R. Nadal

37.14% (26/70)

34.73% (224/645)

The data set comprises all players on Tour who played a minimum of 10 matches for the season. The only other two players in 2019 who managed to break back 30 per cent of the time or better were Kei Nishikori (34.21%) and Andrey Rublev (30%).

When you look back a little further and expand the data set to the past five years (2015-2019), a familiar face jumps up to third place – Andy Murray.

The Scot played 85 matches in 2015 and 87 matches in 2016, but took time away from the game after Wimbledon in 2017 with a hip injury that required multiple surgeries. He successfully returned to Tour this year and was voted 2019 Comeback Player of the Year.

2015-2019: Breaking Straight Back

Players

Breaking Straight Back

R. Nadal

33.98% (158/465)

N. Djokovic

33.84% (155/458)

A. Murray

30.33% (128/422)

Murray is the leader in this specific metric in two of the past five years, just scraping in for eligibility in the data set in 2018 with 13 matches played. That year he broke back a stunning 40 per cent (14/35) of the time. Murray’s abbreviated 2018 schedule started in June at the Fever-Tree Championships and ended in September at the Shenzhen Open.

2015-2019: Tour Leader Breaking Straight Back

Year

Player

Breaking Straight Back

Percentage

2015

N. Djokovic

35/90

38.89%

2016

A. Murray

44/121

36.36%

2017

D. Schwartzman

64/194

32.99%

2018

A. Murray

14/35

40.00%

2019

N. Djokovic

35/94

37.23%

Getting broken is inevitable. Breaking straight back is optional, and a lot of times it just comes down to staying positive in a tough situation.



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ATP Cup Stars Join Rosewall For Unveiling Of Arena Upgrades

Australian legend Ken Rosewall was joined by ATP stars Borna Coric, Grigor Dimitrov, David Goffin and Jamie Murray on Monday in Sydney to unveil the upgrades to Ken Rosewall Arena at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre ahead of the start of the ATP Cup on 3 January.

“I think it’s pretty exciting,” Rosewall said at the ceremony. “I think that it’s going to be some of the best tennis that we’ve seen here at the stadium and I think with the new facility here, with the new seats and the new roof, it’s going to be exciting for the spectators as well. I know that there will be a lot of great matches.”

The spectacular $50.5 million upgrade to the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre has included the transformation of Ken Rosewall Arena into a multi-purpose outdoor covered arena with upsized in-stadia videoboards and new seating. The players even aimed their phone cameras towards the sky to capture the centerpiece of the transformation — an all-weather canopy roof.

"It’s the first thing I noticed when I walked into the court. I have a lot of memories out here,” said Dimitrov, who reached the final of the Sydney ATP 250 in 2016. “I’m so excited to be here."

ATP Cup Tournament Director Tom Larner, Tennis NSW CEO and ATP Cup Sydney General Manager Lawrence Robertson and NSW Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee were also in attendance at Monday’s arena upgrade unveiling, sharing their excitement for both the improvements at the facility and the debut of the ATP Cup.

“It’s fantastic to see in this wonderful city of Sydney the global launch of the tennis season with the talent we have here today, taking place here in just four days,” Larner said.

Having completed a tour of Brisbane and Perth, the ATP Cup trophy has also arrived in Sydney. Its bespoke design is both a tribute to tennis’ past and a celebration of its future.

Made from sterling silver, the trophy's symmetrical design consists of 24 shards, with each representing one of the 24 countries in the competition. The shards support a silver stem adorned with a hand-blown glass silver sphere, replicating both a traditional tennis ball and the hemisphere logo of the ATP Cup.

The trophy’s base is handcrafted from native Banksia hardwood and is finished with a silver plaque, which awaits the engraving of the first ATP Cup champion team.

The first match in Sydney will pit Belgium against Moldova on Friday at 10am local time.



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Medvedev Practises, Djokovic Arrives: Best ATP Cup Social Media Posts Of The Week

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and the rest of your favourite players have all landed in Australia for the ATP Cup. Check out our roundup of the best social media posts from the past week that show how the biggest names on the ATP Tour have been spending their time in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.

Djokovic arrived in Brisbane and is eager to continue his pattern of success in Australia. Serbia takes on France, South Africa and Chile in Group A.

Team Spain has touched down in Perth! Nadal, Roberto Bautista Agut, Pablo Carreno Busta and Feliciano Lopez all traveled together and are ready to begin their preparations. Spain joins Georgia, Japan and Uruguay in Group B.

Medvedev went straight to work in his bid to lead Team Russia to the ATP Cup trophy. Russia will face Italy, Norway and United States in Group D.

Stefanos Tsitsipas and the rest of Team Greece are making the most of their time in Brisbane. They’ll square off against Germany, Canada and Australia in Group F.

Kevin Anderson is ready to represent South Africa as he competes in his first event since Wimbledon.

Jamie Murray hit the court with Team Great Britain captain Tim Henman in Sydney. Murray will team up in doubles with Joe Salisbury.

Grigor Dimitrov got his first look at the ATP Cup trophy and the new roof in Ken Rosewall Arena. He leads Team Bulgaria as they take on Belgium, Great Britain and Moldova in Group C.

David Goffin has already spent plenty of time practising as he aims to guide Team Belgium to a big run in Sydney.

#NextGenATP Aussie Alex de Minaur and team captain Lleyton Hewitt made it clear how much winning for their country means to them.



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Nishikori Withdraws From ATP Cup

Team Japan has been dealt a blow to its ATP Cup lineup after Kei Nishikori announced his withdrawal on Monday from the inaugural event.

“Today, together with my team, we have made this decision as I am still not 100 percent ready to compete at the highest level,” Nishikori said in a statement.

Nishikori has not competed since this year’s US Open due to a right elbow injury that he underwent surgery for in October. Yoshihito Nishioka will replace him as the top-ranked player in Japan's lineup. Yasutaka Uchiyama also withdrew from the event earlier this week and was replaced by Toshihide Matsui.

Japan takes on Spain, Georgia and Uruguay in Group B action in Perth.



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ATP Cup: Djokovic Ready To Rumble In Brisbane

Novak Djokovic touched down on Monday in Brisbane as he looks to continue his pattern of success in Australia at the inaugural ATP Cup.

The No. 2 player in the ATP Rankings will kick off his 2020 campaign by leading Team Serbia. They’ll take on France (led by Gael Monfils), South Africa (led by Kevin Anderson) and Chile (led by Cristian Garin) in Group A.

“It’s great to be back. It’s been awhile since I was last here in Brisbane. I can’t wait for the inaugural ATP Cup event this year,” Djokovic said. “Australia always puts on a great show for tennis during January. Any tennis event is successful in Australia and I’m sure the ATP Cup will be a blast. I’m inviting all the nations to come out and support us, especially the Serbian community.”

Djokovic opened 2019 by capturing a record-breaking seventh Australian Open crown (d. Nadal). The Serbian’s other season highlights include saving two championship points to prevail in a historic fifth-set tie-break at Wimbledon (d. Federer) and earning a pair of ATP Masters 1000 titles in Madrid (d. Tsitsipas) and Paris (d. Shapovalov).

Serbia begins their pursuit of the ATP Cup trophy on Saturday against South Africa.



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ATP Cup: Jarry Bids For More Family History

Playing in the ATP Cup will offer Nicolas Jarry another means to continue the arduous task of following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Jaime Fillol Sr. Beginning 3 January in Brisbane, Jarry will represent his country in the inaugural event, 45 years after his relative and idol took part in the former World Team Cup.

“For us as a family, it’s really beautiful to have a member in the world of tennis”, said Fillol Sr., World No. 14 in 1974 and winner of six ATP Tour titles during his career, which ended in 1985. “Obviously, I hope that Nico beats me. But I’m already history. My only interest is his happiness and that he enjoys all the opportunities this sport offers.”

More than anyone, it was Fillol Sr., born in 1946, who encouraged Jarry to play tennis.

“When he was very small, I would give him a racquet or something made of wood and play in my house. We would go to the garden and I would explain that the courts at Wimbledon were like that. We played in the hallways and I told him it was an indoor court. I talked to him all the time about tennis,” said Fillol, whose brother, Alvaro Fillol and son, Jaime Fillol, also played on the ATP Tour.

It wasn’t easy to convince Jarry because many other sports caught his attention as a young boy in Santiago. He played football, rugby, winter sports, cycling, gymnastics and loved skating and riding scooters. He even played volleyball, an inheritance from his parents.

“On beach holidays, they would take suitcases filled with different balls that we could play with. We even liked surfing,” recalled Jarry, the eldest of five brothers.

But Fillol Sr. was determined to immerse the first of his 17 grandchildren in the world of tennis. He took him to ATP Tour tournaments, helped him have his photo taken with legends of the game (including Rafael Nadal in 2005), and introduced him to the big names of Chilean tennis such as Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu.

“My granddad gradually convinced me to get into tennis,” said Jarry. “Little by little, he became my role model.”

Jarry grew up listening to the stories of his grandfather on the ATP Tour and his victories representing Chile in the World Team Cup. Fillol Sr. had a 2-3 record at the event, having participated in Kingston in 1975 and Dusseldorf in 1978. But there will be plenty of chances next month to add more triumphs to the Jarry-Fillol family history.

The 24-year-old Jarry, who won his maiden ATP Tour title this July in Bastad (d. Londero), is part of an impressive Chilean squad. Team Chile will be captained by Paul Capdeville and led by his peer Cristian Garin, No. 33 in the ATP Rankings, who is in a confident mood after playing some of his best tennis to win his first two ATP Tour titles this year in Houston (d. Ruud) and Munich (d. Berrettini). Alejandro Tabilo, Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera and Hans Podlipnik-Castillo complete the lineup. 

“I’m maybe at the best point of my career,” said Jarry. “It’s good for me. Everything has been positive recently and I want to continue in the same vein.”

Another reason the Jarry-Fillol dynasty can be hopeful about making more history in team competitions is Jarry’s love of representing Chile. Playing for his country has always brought out the best in him

“To me, events where you play for your country have always been special,” said Jarry. “Playing tennis for Chile is a really beautiful thing for me.”



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Pablo & Martin Cuevas Ready To Lead Uruguay In ATP Cup

The 2019 season of Pablo Cuevas, his 15th on the ATP Tour, was special for many reasons.

The 33-year-old Uruguayan found some of his best form again and jumped from No. 90 in the ATP Rankings, his lowest standing since 2014, to No. 45. He finished runner-up in Estoril (l. to Tsitsipas) and also reached the third round at Roland Garros, matching his best Grand Slam result since accomplishing the feat in Paris two years ago.

However, the ATP Cup has been a priority for Cuevas since the beginning of this year. He views the inaugural competition as a significant moment for his career and Uruguayan tennis.

“Since the beginning of the year, I had expectations that we would enter, although I knew there was a lot of time. I was following the [ATP Cup standings] since the middle of the year and was more interested each time,” Cuevas told ATPTour.com during his preseason in Uruguay. “The first cut was with the first 18 teams [the week] after the US Open, but with 24 teams [qualifying], I had an opportunity.”

Uruguay faces off against Spain, Japan and Georgia as part of Group B in Perth. The Spanish team will arrive with World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and World No. 9 Roberto Bautista Agut, while Japan is led by Kei Nishikori and Georgia has a Top 30 player in Nikoloz Basilashvili. But the six-time ATP Tour singles champion has embraced the challenge and is confident his team will be in top form.

“For Uruguay, it is something spectacular,” he said. "We don’t usually face countries with great tennis potential. All the groups are complex and we are getting ready.”

Team Uruguay will unite Pablo with his brother, Martin Cuevas, Franco Roncadelli, Ariel Behar and 17-year-old Juan Martín Fumeaux. Felipe Maccio, who coached Pablo from ages 10 to 17, will serve as team captain. Martin, affectionately known on Tour as “Bebu”, said that representing Uruguay with his brother will be a meaningful moment.

“Sharing a team with Pablo is the best, It’s beautiful to have a player like him on the team. He’s helped me a lot with advice and when we play doubles together,” Martin said. "Since I knew we had a possibility to qualify in June, we followed the standings and he fought to qualify. All of our rivals are tough. We are preparing to arrive in the best way and to win matches.”

Although Pablo is not often in Uruguay, he represents his country with pride each time he steps on the court. The veteran has loved traveling the world throughout his career, but the rare trips back home remain some of his most treasured moments.

“When I go, I enjoy the tranquility of the country and the rhythm of life that takes. I really like the beaches it has and escape there whenever I can go,” he said. “The best thing is family and friends because I don’t have many opportunities to see them, so we have some barbecues and mates when I go. Those things are not negotiable!”



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15 Things To Watch In 2020

The 2020 season has yet to start, but there are already plenty of intriguing storylines in place to emphatically kick off the new decade.

The Big 3 have maintained their dominance at the top of the ATP Rankings, but a growing crop of talented young players look to end their reign. Elite players who struggled with injuries have declared themselves fully fit, while those in the current #NextGenATP class look to establish themselves as players to watch. The groundbreaking ATP Cup will provide an unforgettable beginning to the season and could provide a glimpse into who will qualify for the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.

ATPTour.com breaks down 15 key players and storylines to watch in 2020.

1. Can Rafa Be Stopped?
 Rafael Nadal finished as year-end No. 1 for the fifth time after a memorable 2019 in which he won Roland Garros (d. Thiem) and the US Open (d. Medvedev), in addition to ATP Masters 1000 crowns in Rome (d. Djokovic) and Montreal (d. Medvedev).

Nadal will look to kick off the new year with his first Melbourne crown since 2009. He’s finished runner-up in four (2012, 2014, 2017, 2019) of his past seven appearances.

2. Djokovic's Quest For No. 1
 Novak Djokovic produced another outstanding year by picking up big titles on every surface. He captured a record-breaking seventh Australian Open crown (d. Nadal), saved two championship points to prevail in a historic fifth-set tiebreak at Wimbledon (d. Federer) and earned a pair of Masters 1000 crowns in Madrid (d. Tsitsipas) and Paris (d. Shapovalov).

The 32-year-old seeks to take back the top spot from Nadal. Another title Down Under would send a sharp statement that Djokovic is eager to dominate in the new decade.

3. Roger That
 Roger Federer continues to prove that age is just a number. He captured his 100th ATP Tour crown in Dubai (d. Tsitsipas) and followed up a month later with another Masters 1000 trophy in Miami (d. Isner). His tenth titles in Halle (d. Goffin) and Basel (d. De Minaur) soon followed, but his year will also be remembered for the championship points he let slip against Djokovic at The All England Club.

The 38-year-old Swiss is within striking distance of breaking the record for most singles match wins in the Open Era. Federer has 1,237 wins and only trails Jimmy Connors (1,274).

4. Thiem's Top 3 Pursuit
 Dominic Thiem enjoyed another big year on clay by prevailing in Barcelona (d. Medvedev) and Kitzbühel (d. Ramos-Vinolas), in addition to scoring his second runner-up finish at Roland Garros (l. to Nadal), but proved once again that he can excel on other surfaces. He won his first Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells (d. Federer), took titles in Beijing (d. Tsitsipas) and Vienna (d. Schwartzman), and reached the championship match at the Nitto ATP Finals (l. to Tsitsipas).

Thiem will look for more consistency in Grand Slams as he aims to break into the Top 3. He was forced to retire from his second-round match in Melbourne due to injury and bowed out in the opening round at Wimbledon and the US Open.

5. Medvedev's Momentum
 Daniil Medvedev's inspired form in the second half of this year firmly established him as one of the most dangerous players on Tour. Medvedev reached the title match in six consecutive tournaments appearances, clinching his first two Masters 1000 crowns in Cincinnati (d. Goffin) and Shanghai (d. Zverev), as well as winning his first title on home soil in St. Petersburg (d. Coric). He also advanced to his maiden Grand Slam final in New York (l. to Nadal).

With less than 900 ATP Rankings points to defend in the first three months of next year, another big run could push him inside the Top 3.

6. Superb Stefanos
 One year after prevailing at the Next Gen ATP Finals, Stefanos Tsitsipas wrapped up this season by graduating to champion at the Nitto ATP Finals (d. Thiem). His outstanding year, which saw him win 54 tour-level matches and also take titles in Marseille (d. Kukushkin) and Estoril (d. Cuevas), saw him named as Greece’s Best Male Athlete of 2019.

After defeating Federer en route to his maiden Grand Slam semi-final this year in Melbourne, he’ll look to further raise the stakes with his first Grand Slam crown.

7. Zverev's Momentum
 Alexander Zverev readily admitted that his 2019 season was a mixed bag, but finished on a strong note with a Masters 1000 final in Shanghai (l. to Medvedev) and semi-final showing at the season-ending championships in London. Zverev also saved a championship point to prevail in Lyon (d. Jarry).

If he can carry his late season form into 2020, he’ll be a contender in any event he plays.

8. Grande Matteo
 Matteo Berrettini cracked the Top 10 and earned his debut appearance at The O2 after a breakout year that included titles in Budapest (d. Krajinovic) and Stuttgart (d. Auger-Aliassime). The powerful Italian also scored his maiden Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open and first Masters 1000 semi-final in Shanghai. He was fittingly selected by his peers as Most Improved Player of the Year in the 2019 ATP Awards.

Berrettini’s all-surface success showed how dangerous he is, but a win against one of the Big 3 would further solidify that he’s someone to keep a close eye on.

9. Del Potro Returns
 Persistent right knee issues limited Juan Martin Del Potro to five tournaments this year and shut down his season in June after he underwent surgery for a fractured right kneecap. However, the 31-year-old isn’t new to comebacks and typically doesn’t take long to find his form. His powerful baseline game is still potent and will make him an opponent that no one wants to see across the net.

10. The Veteran Brigade
 Roberto Bautista Agut and Fabio Fognini were rewarded for years of persistence by cracking the Top 10 for the first time, while Gael Monfils returned to the Top 10 after a two-year absence. The trio hopes to back up their strong results with another outstanding season and their success on all surfaces will give them plenty of opportunities to shine. Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka also can't be counted out.

11. Healthy & Dangerous
 Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic can deliver great tennis when they’re fit, but both endured frustrating struggles with injuries this year. Nishikori ended his season after the US Open due to a right elbow injury that required surgery, while knee issues forced Raonic to miss the clay-court season and a back injury forced him out of the US Open.

Both men spent their off-season getting back to full strength and are still highly dangerous opponents. If they can stay healthy, expect their ATP Rankings to quickly rise.

12. ATP Cup Kicks Off The New Year
 The 2020 season begins in grand fashion with the inaugural ATP Cup, held throughout Australia from 3-12 January. Twenty-four teams will compete in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth as they vie for the ATP Cup trophy. Singles players can earn a maximum of 750 ATP Rankings points, which could have a significant impact on who ends up qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.

13. #NextGenATP Stars Ready To Soar
 Tsitsipas’ triumph at The O2 while still part of the #NextGenATP class showed that the future is now. Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime are eager to follow in the Greek’s footsteps after producing career-best seasons, while two-time Milan finalist Alex de Minaur looks to build on winning his first three ATP Tour titles in 2019. Reigning Milan champion and 2019 Newcomer of the Year Jannik Sinner gained plenty of new fans with his rapid rise and looks to continue his upward momentum.

14. Double Your Pleasure
 Another thrilling year of doubles has set the stage for an exciting 2020 season. Juan Sebastian Cabal/Robert Farah look to continue their Grand Slam dominance after prevailing at Wimbledon (d. Mahut/Roger-Vasselin) and the US Open (d. Granollers/Zeballos), while Pierre-Hugues Herbert/Nicolas Mahut added a bookend to their Australian Open title (d. Kontinen/Peers) with their first Nitto ATP Finals crown (d. Klaasen/Venus).

Roland Garros champions Kevin Krawietz/Andreas Mies (d. Chardy/Martin), Raven Klaasen/Michael Venus and Lukasz Kubot/Marcelo Melo are among the other top teams who hope to have a big impact in the new year.

15. Swan Songs
 A trio of doubles legends have confirmed that 2020 will be their final season. Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan, who have won 16 Grand Slam doubles titles together, will conclude their epic partnership at the US Open. Eight-time Grand Slam doubles champion Leander Paes said that he will play select events throughout the year before retiring after 29 years on Tour.



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Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic arrive in Australia to begin ATP Cup preparations



The inaugural ATP Cup gets underway on January 3.

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Nadal Lands In Perth For ATP Cup

Rafael Nadal is back in Australia and ready to kick off the new season at the inaugural ATP Cup.

The World No. 1 touched down in Perth on Sunday and made time for selfies and autographs with his fans. Nadal looks to guide Team Spain out of Group B, which also features Japan (led by Kei Nishikori), Georgia (led by Nikoloz Basilashvili) and Uruguay (led by Pablo Cuevas).

The Spaniard spent his pre-season training in Mallorca at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar. Francisco Roig, Nadal’s coach since 2005, joined him for a few days and was impressed with what he saw.

“Rafa is spectacular,” Roig said. “He’s found some very good form. He’s feeling confident in the way he is playing and his serve is really helping him. I think Nadal looks great. Now it’s a question of maintaining his game.”

Nadal is eager to maintain his momentum from finishing 2019 as year-end No. 1 for the fifth time. He prevailed at Roland Garros (d. Thiem) and the US Open (d. Medvedev), in addition to taking ATP Masters 1000 titles in Rome (d. Djokovic) and Montreal (d. Medvedev).

Spain begins their campaign on Saturday against Georgia.



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Alexander Zverev apologises to Roger Federer after making cheeky quip in China



Alexander Zverev apologised to Roger Federer after calling him old.

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Roger Federer punishes Alexander Zverev after blunder in China doubles clash



Roger Federer repetitively hit Alexander Zverev with a tennis ball for missing an easy shot.

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Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic ‘will do everything’ to overcome Roger Federer challenge



Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have been tipped to be Roger Federer’s closest challengers next year.

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Andy Murray forced to pull out of 2020 Australian Open and put Grand Slam comeback plans on hold

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Saturday 28 December 2019

Murray Withdraws From Aussie Swing

Andy Murray will have a late start to his 2020 campaign. The Brit announced his withdrawal from the ATP Cup and Australian Open due to a recent setback in the off-season.

“I’ve worked so hard to get myself into a situation where I can play at the top level and I’m gutted I’m not going to be able to play in Australia in January,” Murray said. “After the Australian Open this year, when I wasn’t sure whether I’d be able to play again, I was excited about coming back to Australia and giving my best. That makes this even more disappointing for me.

“Unfortunately, I’ve had a setback recently and, as a precaution, need to work through that before I get back on court competing.”

The Brit made headlines this year after an emotional pre-tournament press conference at the Australian Open, when he announced his intention to retire after Wimbledon due to ongoing pain in his left hip. Murray fell in his opening round in Melbourne to Roberto Bautista Agut, but instead opted for a second surgery just weeks later and had a metal plate inserted into his hip joint.

He threw himself into recovery and tested the waters with a foray into doubles, winning his first event back in June with Feliciano Lopez at Queen’s Club (d. Ram/Salisbury). Murray returned to singles action in August and, just two months later, defeated Stan Wawrinka in the Antwerp final to clinch his first ATP Tour singles title since 2017 Dubai.

“I know how excited Andy was about coming back to compete in Australia in January, and how disappointed he is not to make it for 2020,” said Craig Tiley, Tennis Australia CEO. “Andy’s last match at the Australian Open was a five-set roller coaster that none of us who witnessed it will ever forget. His determination and iron will was on display for all to see. It’s that fighting spirit that has driven him to come back from a potentially career-ending injury to achieve the results he has this year.”

James Ward will replace Murray on Team Great Britain at the ATP Cup.



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Early Arrivals: Tsitsipas & Medvedev Touch Down For ATP Cup

The biggest names in tennis are all making their way to Brisbane, Perth and Sydney for the ATP Cup.

With the inaugural event set to kick off on 3 January, many players arrived early to Australia and started preparing for their first event of the 2020 season. Greece (led by Stefanos Tsitsipas) and Russia (led by Daniil Medvedev) are among the teams scheduled for action on Day 1.

Tsitsipas is in Brisbane and has begun training with his teammates. Greece joins Canada, Australia and Germany in Group F.

Medvedev and Karen Khachanov reunited for a flight to Perth. They look to guide Russia past Italy, United States and Norway in Group D.

Borna Coric showed his excitement to join Team Croatia in Sydney. They’ll take on Austria, Argentina and Poland in Group E.

Felix Auger-Aliassime wasted no time getting to work in Brisbane with a practice session on Pat Rafter Arena.

Casper Ruud and the rest of Team Norway received some extra motivation by holding the ATP Cup trophy in Perth.



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Andy Murray pulls out of Australian Open with pelvic injury as Brit plans February return



Andy Murray will miss out on the Australian Open in Melbourne next month because of injury.

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Decade In Review: Challenger By The Numbers

Youngest Winners
Felix Auger-Aliassime led the youth movement in the 2010s. At the age of 16 years and 10 months, not only did the Canadian become the youngest winner of the decade - in Lyon in 2017 - but the eighth-youngest in Challenger history.

The Copa Sevilla was home to two of the seven youngest winners of the decade, with 17-year-olds Casper Ruud and Auger-Aliassime going back-to-back in 2016-17. Same with the Sparkassen Open in Braunschweig, as Alexander Zverev and Nicola Kuhn triumphed in 2014 and 2017 respectively.

In Good Company
Just last month, Jannik Sinner became the second-youngest player to claim three titles in a single season, behind only Richard Gasquet. He prevailed in Bergamo, Lexington and Ortisei in 2019.

Auger-Aliassime, Sinner and Taylor Fritz put themselves on an exclusive list, joining just eight other players in winning multiple titles at age 17 & under. They include Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro.

Auger-Aliassime and Hyeon Chung joined Gasquet, Tomas Berdych, Mario Ancic and Guillermo Coria as the only players to win at least four titles at the age of 18 & under.

On The Map
The Americans dominated the decade, as the United States led all countries with 129 total titles. Argentina was a close second with 122 crowns. France (99), Spain (98), Germany (91), Italy (90) and Australia (76) rounded out the leading nations.

A country boasted 20 winners in a season for just the third time in Challenger history. In 2016, Argentina featured Facundo Bagnis (6), Guido Andreozzi (2), Renzo Olivo (2), Diego Schwartzman (2), Horacio Zeballos (2), Nicolas Kicker (2), Carlos Berlocq, Leonardo Mayer, Augustin Velotti and Maximo Gonzalez as champions.

In addition, 10 countries celebrated their first winners. They were Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria), Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania), Attila Balazs (Hungary), Malek Jaziri (Tunisia), Victor Estrella Burgos (Dominican Republic), Jurgen Zopp (Estonia), Radu Albot (Moldova), Darian King (Barbados), Wu Di (China) and Marcelo Arevalo (El Salvador). Also, Hugo Dellien became Bolivia's first winner since 1983.

The Winners' Circle
At the age of 39 years and seven months, Ivo Karlovic became the oldest champion ever with his title in Calgary in 2018. And just last month, he became the first 40-year-old finalist in Houston.

Max Purcell became the second-lowest ranked winner of all-time, lifting his maiden trophy in Gimcheon, Korea in 2016. The 18-year-old was sitting at No. 762 in the ATP Rankings at the time.  

Sergiy Stakhovsky saved the most match points in a Challenger final, denying a total of seven against Yen-Hsun Lu in Seoul in 2016.

Yuichi Sugita became the only player to win ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour titles on grass in a single season. He triumphed in Antalya and Surbiton in 2017.

Greg Zemlja became the only player to win Challenger titles on hard, clay and grass in a single season. In 2012, the Slovenian prevailed in Nottingham (grass), Anning (clay) and Beijing (hard) in less than two months.

Fast Facts
-Felix Auger-Aliassime became the youngest player to qualify for a Challenger main draw, at the age of 14 years and seven months (Drummondville 2015). And a few months later, he would become the youngest to win a match, reaching the quarter-finals in nearby Granby, Canada.

-Stefan Kozlov reached his first final at the ripe age of 16 years and eight months, in Sacramento in 2014. It made him the eighth-youngest finalist in Challenger history.

-David Goffin, Denis Istomin and Janko Tipsarevic registered the longest win streaks of the decade, with each player claiming 20 victories in a row. Goffin did so in 2014, scoring a record 36 consecutive sets won.

-Former Top 10 stars David Ferrer and Mikhail Youzhny claimed Challenger titles in the twilight of their careers. Ferrer's victory in Monterrey 2018 came 16 years and one month after his most recent crown - the longest gap between titles in Challenger history (Manerbio 2002 to Monterrey 2018). Youzhny's gap of 15 years and five months is the second-longest ever (Samarkand 2000 to Eckental 2015).

-It was an impressive decade for Argentina, as Carlos Berlocq set the record for most matches won in a single season (57 in 2010), while Facundo Bagnis secured the most titles in a single season (six in 2016).

-Both the longest final and the shortest final of all time were registered in the the past decade. After three hours and 31 minutes, Somdev Devvarman defeated Daniel Nguyen in Winnetka in 2015. And just a few months ago, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga routed Dudi Sela in Cassis after a mere 43 minutes.



from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/367bcBV
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