Tennis’ innovative new team championship opens the men’s season tomorrow, with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic among those looking for a winning start ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year.
The ATP Cup is to see 24 nations split into six groups across three Australian cities, with eight teams emerging from the round-robin to compete in a knockout phase until one country is left standing.
It is the sport’s newest tournament and the third men’s team event competing for the hearts and minds — and dollars — of fans, along with a revamped Davis Cup and the annual Laver Cup, which pits Europe against the World.
However, it has already suffered setbacks, with major draw Roger Federer opting to give it a miss, and Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori pulling out injured.
Despite this, world No. 2 Djokovic said that the move toward more team tennis was good for a sport best known for the individuality of its global superstars.
“More than 90 percent of the time, we’re playing as individuals and we don’t have too many team events,” said Djokovic, who also heads the ATP Player Council.
“This is going to bring together a lot of nations and, for me personally, it will be a very nice and proud moment to represent my country,” the Serbian great said. “An event like this is truly going to make an impact.”
Sydney hosts the finals, along with group games, which are also held in Brisbane and Perth, with US$15 million in prize money and up to 750 singles and 250 doubles ATP rankings points at stake.
Australian star Nick Kyrgios agreed with Djokovic, saying that it would be “an awesome event.”
“I know everyone on the tour wants to be with their teammates. There’s nothing better than playing for your country against the other best players in the world,” he said.
While Federer, Nishikori and Murray are missing, most of the world’s top 30 men are playing.
The championship, which ends on Jan. 12, is to feature two ties — comprised of two singles matches then a doubles — each day in the three cities during the round-robin phase.
Belgium begin the Sydney action against Moldova before Britain face Bulgaria.
Kyrgios spearheads local hopes for Australia in Brisbane against Alexander Zverev-led Germany, while Greece take on Canada in the same city.
First up in Perth would be the US against Norway, followed by Russia and Italy.
Djokovic makes his tournament debut in Brisbane for Serbia on day two, as does Spanish world No. 1 Nadal in Perth.
Under the format, the second-ranked singles players from each country face each other first, then the top-ranked men ahead of a potentially decisive doubles.
A country winning two of three matches would claim the tie.
As well as the players, some big-name former stars are captaining their countries, including Boris Becker (Germany), Marat Safin (Russia), Tim Henman (Britain), Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) and Thomas Muster (Austria).
The men’s season previously began with players spread across various smaller-scale tournaments, but outgoing ATP chairman Chris Kermode said that it made far more sense to have everyone under one umbrella.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was