WHEN it comes to the calibre of talent taking the court in the 2021 ATP Cup, Spain named as the second seeded nation is a tough pill to swallow with plenty of talented players able to assist the 2020 runners up to victory. With that in mind, as well as the versatile combinations the nation put up last year, expect the Spaniards to push for the W this year.

TEAM:

Rafael Nadal
Roberto Bautista Agut
Marcel Granollers
Pablo Carreno Busta

Like a number of other nations, Spain brings in a team of tried and tested performers, with plenty of viable options and versatile combinations. With both its singles talents more than capable of stepping into the doubles where required, Spain will be a tough battle for any nation looking to reach the finals. Looking to the first singles player, and the obvious choice is world number two Rafael Nadal. While the hard court may not be his preferred surface, but the champion is not called a champion for no reason, and will be a huge threat out on court with his court coverage and ability to change up under pressure. The second singles player is Roberto Bautista Agut, with the 13th ranked talent a fraction inconsistent, but overall can beat anyone on his day, especially on hard court which he has proven particularly adept. 

Looking at the doubles duo, Marcel Granollers is a useful player in the mix despite being 34-years-old. It seems age is just a number for the Spanish side, with the veteran ranked 11th in the world in the doubles, and capable of holding ground well under pressure, especially following a solid 2020. Add in the final player, 29-year-old Pablo Carreno Busta, and there is no doubt the nation has brought in a solid array of talent with the versatile player able to provide a crucial cog in both doubles or singles where required. Also able to perform impressively on the hard court, expect the doubles duo to provide some surprises, or even see the likes of Nadal or Bautista Agut hit the court too.

The only real question mark over the Spanish team is the aging list of players, with three of the four aged over 30. While that is no issue for the calibre of Nadal, who realistically is still in peak form despite requiring more recovery time than he used to, the same cannot be said for the rest of the team with many nations deliberately fielding more youthful teams – or sometimes not by choice, but based on rankings. Expect Spain to be right up there once more, and with a fire in the belly and an intriguing team on hand, the nation will surely be a force to be reckoned with.

Picture credit: ATP Tour