WITH the exception of Argentina, Group D of the 2022 ATP Cup features nations with a star player, but no other Top 100 talents. Even the South American nation has not had its strongest side in recent years, with just one Top 40 player, and the remaining two singles players between 40th and 70th. Regardless, Argentina looms as the favourite, though the number one singles clashes across this group should be interesting.

GROUP D FIXTURES:

Argentina vs. Georgia – January 1, Qudos Bank Arena
Greece vs. Poland – January 1, Qudos Bank Arena
Poland vs. Georgia – January 3, Ken Rosewall Arena
Greece vs. Argentina – January 3, Ken Rosewall Arena
Poland vs. Argentina – January 5, Qudos Bank Arena
Greece vs. Georgia – January 5, Qudos Bank Arena

Whilst Group C provides an even group due to its balance across singles and doubles, Group D is even in another way. The fact that basically three of the four sides have a star, and then little depth to back him up. The one exception is Argentina, with Diego Schwartzman coming off a career-best two-year period and continuing to defy the critics with another Top 15 finish. Though traditionally a strong team nation, Argentina has world number 44 Federico Delbonis and world number 63 Federico Coria as second singles options. Both should get cracks against far lower opponents in matches which will almost always force a deciding doubles.

The Argentinians have a Top 50 doubles combination which should get them across the line, but Greece have Stefanos Tsitsipas who will be aware he has a heavy workload coming up. Ranked 399th in the world, Michail Pervolarakis will support Tsitsipas in the singles, but be batting well above his average in terms of ranking spots. He will come up against Poland’s second singles player in world number 117, Kamil Majchrzak who is the second highest ranked second singles player in the group. He would fancy himself against Georgia’s second singles player though – Aleksandre Metreveli – who is ranked all the way down at 571st, but has a career-high ranking of 264th five years ago.

Unlike Tsitsipas with Greece, both Poland and Georgia do not have guaranteed number one singles wins. Hubert Hurkacz had a sensational 2021 season, with the 24-year-old finishing a career-high ninth and competing at the ATP Finals. It did not go to plan there, but he will front up here against quality opponents, and be favourite in two of his singles. His partner in Majchrzak could cause an upset against the Argentinians which might result in Poland causing an upset, but then Poland would need to find a way to win the doubles against Greece, which would likely feature Tsitsipas. Meanwhile Nikoloz Basilashvili has the toughest task of all. He is the lowest ranked of the number one singles players, with the lowest ranked teammates as well, meaning if the favourites all win, Georgia will not win a match.

PREDICTION:

Argentina has seemingly too much depth to not advance, though if Hurkacz can overthrow Schwartzman, they might get a little nervous. Against Greece, it will come down to the South Americans needing to win the doubles which they should do, but Tsitsipas will likely play, whilst it is fair to put a line through the ATP Cup’s weakest nation in Georgia.