ATP Cup News

World No.1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn his name from the Serbia team for the ATP Cup.

Russia's Andrey Rublev becomes the latest edition to the Covid-19 positive list after the Abu Dhabi exhibition event.

Canada's Denis Shapovalov has announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Sydney for the ATP Cup.

Djokovic has declined to disclose whether he is vaccinated, citing privacy.

Things got heated after Serbia found themselves trailing as they lost the first set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (7-4). The Serbs were up by 0-40 but a string of unforced errors saw Djokovic and his compatriot end up losing the opportunity to take the lead. The current World No.1 was furious and he smashed his racquet violently on the team’s bench. 

With Rafa Nadal still sidelined with a back problem, Pablo Carrena Busta guided a depleted Spain into the last four by claiming a 6-3 6-4 win against Greece’s Michail Pervolarakis at John Cain Arena. Second seed Karen Khachanov battled past South African Kevin Anderson 6-3, 7-6(5) to reach the quarter-finals of the Great Ocean Road Open on Friday. Though eliminated, Greece ended up winning the tie 2-1, with Stefanos Tsitsipas easing past Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 7-5.

The Spaniard was one of the top players who quarantined in Adelaide for 14 days after their arrival Down Under. At the end of his isolation, he defeated Dominic Thiem 7-5, 6-4 on Friday in a highly entertaining exhibition match between the men's world number two and three at Adelaide's Memorial Drive Tennis Club.

TA Chief Executive Craig Tiley has said that the second edition of the highly successful ATP Cup remains on course for Jan 2021. TA is planning to establish five bio-security `bubbles` across Australia from early December to prepare for the Cup and the ensuing Australian Open. The inaugural edition of the 24-team international tournament was played in Jan 2020 with Serbia crowned as champions

Djokovic has created the blueprint to beat the Spaniard on hardcourts, although he is one of the very few players good enough to follow the instructions.

Djokovic won the match 6-1 5-7 6-4 after he relentlessly pushed the 198cm (6.5 ft) tall Russian around the court, forcing Medvedev to constantly scrape shots off his shoe laces.

Smoke from the blazes has also resulted in hazardous conditions in Sydney, where the final rounds of the inaugural ATP Cup will take place next weekend.

Bushfires are raging across Australia, with New South Wales and Victoria greatly affected, causing huge loss to life and property. 

The Australian sports fraternity has come in unison in order to raise money to support people and communities across the country affected by the devastating bushfires.

The ATP Cup will feature 24 nations contesting in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney over 10 days for the first time and will give the top men`s players a solid platform to prepare for the Australian Open.

The 2020 Australian Open will take place from January 20 to February 2 at Melbourne Park. 

Roger Federer has taken this decision so that he can spend more time with his family. Federer's decision to withdraw means Switzerland can no longer take part in the nation-based event on Jan. 3-12 and that six more countries will now qualify, based on the world rankings of their top players.

Murray has played only a handful of singles matches since having a career-saving hip surgery earlier this year but qualified for the nation-based tournament with a protected ranking.

The ATP, governing body of the men`s tour, said every member of the top 10 and 27 of the top 30 had committed to play the $15 million tournament to be hosted in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney from Jan. 3-12, 2020.

The new event, seen as a threat to the International Tennis Federation`s (ITF) revamped 18-nation Davis Cup competition starting in Madrid next November, will take place over 10 days in three Australian cities.