GREEK fans will get to see their nation at the 2021 ATP Cup thanks to the qualification system of top ranked players. World number six Stefanos Tsitsipas ensured the proud nation was able to qualifier for the team event, though it will be an uphill battle for the European nation to get past the group stage.

TEAM:

Stefanos Tsitsipas
Michael Pervolarakis
Markos Kalovelonis
Petros Tsitsipas

Greece is the only nation in the tournament without both singles players inside the Top 100. In fact, the second ranked singles player behind the sixth ranked Tsitsipas is Michail Pervolakis who comes in at number 459th. Keeping in mind the next lowest ranked singles player in Dennis Novak of Austria at 98th. So for Pervolakis, the saying of “great experience” will ring true, though coming in as the heavy underdog, he can relax and play his brand of tennis without pressure.

Tsitsipas is absolute quality and there is no doubt that on his day, he can beat anyone. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, none of them would strike fear for Tsitsipas. While he would not be considered favourite in those games, being on hard court he would be favoured over Nadal, and at least be close to Thiem. If he can play at his best, he can get Greece 1-0 up, though it is fair to say that will go to 1-1 after the singles.

It leaves the nation with a conundrum for the doubles, but one they will be fully prepared for. The two doubles players are Markos Kalovelonis and Petros Tsitsipas. Kalovelonis is ranked 536th in the world, and the younger Tsitsipas comes in at 776th. No doubt it could be a family affair if the two Tsitsipas brother teams up, but realistically, Greece needs the top ranked one to be playing doubles if it is any hope of winning a tie. He is their top ranked doubles player despite only playing 14 tournaments, with Pervolarakis the number two with 21 tournaments.

It is not anticipated that Greece will only use two players, but expect Stefanos to be called upon for doubles to team up with either his brother or Kalovelonis if the tie is in the balance. In saying that, it will still be difficult for Greece as a lot of the other nations have specialist doubles combinations, and anyone they come up against will struggle. It is hard to see Greece toppling either Spain or Australia in the group stage.

It will take a pretty monumental effort for Greece to advance, but Tsitsipas is a patriotic player with bucketloads of talent and plenty of support, so he will be doing everything in his power to drag his nation across the line.

Picture credit: Ella Ling/ATP Tour