NOW the 2021 Davis Cup Finals are done and dusted, the next step for the world’s best ATP Tour players is the identical format of the ATP Cup. The two singles, one doubles format event is held in Australia in January, with 16 teams competing in four groups of four. Each of the four sides in each group face off to determine a group winner which advances to the semi-finals. From there it is a knockout semi and final stage. Now the 2022 ATP Cup nominations have been revealed.

The point of difference with the ATP Cup compared to the Davis Cup is, the nation does not need to have depth to qualify, the whole aim is to get the best possible players at the event. So aside from Australia receiving a wildcard, effectively the Top 22 available players and their nations have earned a place at the tournament. If a number one player withdraws, then it knocks the nation back in the pecking order.

A perfect example is Roger Federer‘s withdrawal, forcing Switzerland out of the event. The next highest ranked player would be Stan Wawrinka (82nd), with Henri Laaksonen (97th) and Marc-Andrea Huesler (187th) the others. Instead, it means Nikoloz Basilashvili (22nd in the world) and Georgia qualify. Basilashvili will be joined by two teammates ranked outside the Top 500. Other nations such as Greece (Stefanos Tsitsipas) and Norway (Casper Ruud) have Top 10 players, but then no other representative inside the Top 300.

Effectively what it means is, Georgia qualifies with 22nd and two sub-500 ranked players, but the United States miss out despite having Taylor Fritz, John Isner and Reilly Opelka ranked 23rd, 24th and 26th respectively. They would be an incredibly competitive nation, and actually have the second lowest third ranked player behind recent Davis Cup winners, Russia. But instead, they miss out, though could be a late call-up if Novak Djokovic opts not to come to Australia, because that would mean the 33rd ranked Dusan Lajovic falls down the pecking order.

2022 ATP CUP NOMINATIONS