THERE are plenty of storylines that could play out at the inaugural 2020 ATP Cup in Australia early in the New Year. The tournament is the same style as the controversial Davis Cup, but with a clear goal that makes sense – to get the best players playing. Each win gains ATP Tour ranking points which attracts the players, and it also has the added benefit of competing against the world’s best. The entries are based on the highest ranked player of each nation, which is great, but the downside is there are some nations that might have a player in the top 50, but a second singles player outside the top 500, meaning there will likely be some really one-sided contests. There are enough tantalising matchups to keep an eye on over the course of the tournament, with the six groups played across three venues in Australia – Brisbane, Sydney and Perth – and the finals played in Sydney.

The biggest question mark will be whether or not Serbia can live up to its number one ranking and bounce back from the heartbreaking defeat at the Davis Cup. Along with the triumphant Spain, the rising nations of Australia and Canada, the unpredictability of Russia and the consistency of Argentina will all provide plenty of storylines. The new tournament in the lead-up to the Australian Open should provide players with some great practice against likely seeded players at the Grand Slam, while handing spectators a glimpse at the world’s best for those who cannot make the trip to Melbourne later in the month.

Note: World ranking/seeding is in brackets.

Group A: Brisbane

Chile (#20)
France (#9)
Serbia (#1)
South Africa (#14)

Friday, Jan 3:

France vs. Chile
Serbia vs. South Africa

Monday, Jan 6:

South Africa vs. Chile
Serbia vs. France

Wednesday, Jan 8:

Serbia vs. Chile
France vs. South Africa

Summary:

There are two clear standout nations in Group A, and it is the pair that faced off at the Davis Cup last month. A Serbian side – led by Novak Djokovic – up against the might of France will be the two far and away sides expected to battle for a quarter final spot and have no trouble dismissing both South Africa and Chile. Kevin Anderson is a work horse but past his prime, with Lloyd Harris coming through as a really solid second option, while Cristian Garin has enjoyed some terrific form over the past couple of years as he continues to develop. But neither side will seriously worry Djokovic or France whom boast Gael Monfils, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Benoit Paire – as well as world number three doubles player Nicolas Mahut.

Prediction: Serbia – they defeated France at the Davis Cup and Djokovic is in way too hot form to slow down, while Monfils and Tsonga have both been up and down.

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Group B: Perth

Georgia (#13)
Japan (#7)
Spain (#2)
Uruguay (#22)

Friday, Jan 3:

Japan vs. Uruguay
Spain vs. Georgia

Monday, Jan 6:

Japan vs. Georgia
Spain vs. Uruguay

Wednesday, Jan 8:

Spain vs. Japan
Georgia vs. Uruguay

Summary:

In the easiest group to predict, Spain should cruise through here and book a spot in the quarter finals. Rafael Nadal’s biggest challenge is Kei Nishikori who has not played a competitive match since the US Open in September. The Spanish depth of Roberto Bautista Agut, Pablo Carreno Busta, Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Feliciano Lopez is better than any other side, with the exception of possibly France. Nikoloz Basilashvili carries his Georgian nation hopes, while for Uruguay, Pablo Cuevas should enjoy the hit out in the lead-up to the Australian Open getting to play with his brother Martin.

Prediction: Spain without a second though. Georgia and especially Uruguay are making up the numbers, while Japan with Nishikori could pick up a couple of big wins though given Nishikori has to play Nadal in the singles, will likely get swept by Spain.

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Group C: Sydney

Belgium (#10)
Bulgaria (#19)
Great Britain (#17)
Moldova (#23)

Friday, Jan 3:

Belgium vs. Moldova
Bulgaria vs. Great Britain

Sunday, Jan 5:

Bulgaria vs. Moldova
Belgium vs. Great Britain

Tuesday, Jan 7:

Great Britain vs. Moldova
Bulgaria vs. Belgium

Summary:

Far and away the weakest group both on paper and in terms of seeded ranking, it is the one group unlikely to contain a serious contender for the ATP Cup. Belgium will likely advance due to David Goffin, but the world number 11 was in shaky form at the Davis Cup, while Great Britain’s Daniel Evans and Andy Murray showed what they are capable of at that event to make a quarter final. Being the second player, Murray will have the advantage of avoiding Goffin and likely face Steve Darcis instead, and the British doubles combination is strong. Bulgaria have made it here thanks to Grigor Dimitrov’s top 20 world ranking, but with limited depth, the nation will struggle to trouble either Belgium or Great Britain. At least they have Moldova in the group though, with the weakest nation at the tournament boasting the 46th ranked Radu Albot – the only Moldovian inside the top 800.

Prediction: Belgium. If Goffin comes to play, he can lead his nation to the next stage, but if he drops his match to Evans, then Great Britain will likely claim the title.

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Group D: Perth

Italy (#8)
Norway (#24)
Russia (#3)
USA (#15)

Friday, Jan 3:

USA vs. Norway
Russia vs. Italy

Sunday, Jan 5:

Italy vs. Norway
Russia vs. USA

Tuesday, Jan 7:

Russia vs. Norway
Italy vs. USA

Summary:

Aside from the three other nations being too powerful for Norway, this should be a really entertaining group. It has to be said that Italy’s performance at the Davis Cup was underwhelming. To not make the last eight would have stung deep for Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini, with the pair only second to Nadal and Bautista Agut as a one-two combination. They need to improve pretty quickly with the Australian summer unforgiving and this tournament is the best way to start. Russia is the danger team, with Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov capable of toppling anyone on their day, but they are also inconsistent and hard to read heading into the tournament. Both will be players to watch over the next decade as Russia rises back up the tennis world rankings. The United States is like France in the sense that all of its players could come in and win on any given day, but their success relies on a big serving game. John Isner provides the experience with Taylor Fritz and Reilly Opelka, but they will likely only get through if the other two teams are down. Norway has Casper Rudd who will gain quality experience here, but expect Norway to get swept by each of the other three sides.

Prediction: Russia has the form on its side, so expect it to start favourites, with Italy the highest capabilities. USA the dark horse.

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Group E: Sydney

Argentina (#12)
Austria (#4)
Croatia (#11)
Poland (#21)

Saturday, Jan 4:

Argentina vs. Poland
Austria vs. Croatia

Monday, Jan 6:

Croatia vs. Poland
Austria vs. Argentina

Wednesday, Jan 8:

Austria vs. Poland
Croatia vs. Argentina

Summary:

If Italy wanted to put its Davis Cup performance firmly in the rear-view mirror, then spare a thought for Croatia. The reigning champions were completely outplayed, and with Marin Cilic named back in the side to assist Borna Coric, Croatia should be more competitive in this tournament. Though the lack of court time in the past month compared to the Argentinians and Austrians is a concern. Dominic Thiem is in unbelievable form and will be hard to stop here, while Diego Schwartzman and Guido Pella form a strong one-two combination. Pella could well take out the second singles in all the matches which would prove crucial, but the games will likely come down to the doubles, which is exciting. Poland is also in the group, and while 37th ranked Hubert Hurkacz could play above his weight range, and Poland is far from the worst side at the tournament, but considering the group it was drawn, it is hard to imagine them progressing any further.

Prediction: Austria. Thiem is in just too good form at the moment, though expect Argentina to be strong and the winner of the doubles between the teams could decide it overall.

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Group F: Brisbane

Australia (#18)
Canada (#16)
Germany (#5)
Greece (#6)

Friday, Jan 3:

Greece vs. Canada
Germany vs. Australia

Sunday, Jan 5:

Canada vs. Australia
Germany vs. Greece

Tuesday, Jan 7:

Germany vs. Canada
Greece vs. Australia

By far the most exciting group of the tournament and to be honest, the poster child for why the ATP Cup would exist. All four nations have a player that can challenge the top few elites in the world rankings, which is where the winner of that top singles will determine how the group falls. Most fans would hope one of the runners-up comes from this group because of the top-end strength. Greece has the most in-form player in ATP Finals champion, Stefanos Tsitsipas, but it also has the weakest depth of the teams. So a lot will rest on Tsitsipas’ young shoulders in this tournament. Germany has Alexander Zverev who has shown he can match it with the best, and Jan-Lennard Struff is more than capable as a second singles player. Canada arguably has the weakest first player on paper, but one of the strongest second player, with Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime teaming up. Canada is similar to Russia in the sense it is an emerging nation, and making the Davis Cup Final will give the whole team confidence. As for Australia, the fact Nick Kyrgios qualifies for the second player in the team beggars belief, and realistically he should win all his games, while Alex de Minaur takes on two top seven players. A huge chance to advance if de Minaur can get up and cause an upset. Canada did defeat Australia at the Davis Cup though, so the teams could finish one and two.

Prediction: On home soil, Australia might be the team to look at here, but this group just has so many dynamics to it. If you want to watch the future of the ATP Tour, tune in to this group with de Minaur, Kyrgios, Tsitsipas, Zverev, Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime all names to keep in mind over the next decade.

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Quarter Finals: Sydney

Thursday, Jan 9:

Q1: Group C Winner vs. Group F winner
Q2: Group D Winner vs. Group E winner

Prediction: Belgium vs. Australia (Australia win) | Russia vs. Austria (Russia win)

Friday, Jan 10:

Q3: Group A Winner vs. Runner-up 2
Q4: Group B Winner vs. Runner-up 1

Prediction: Serbia vs. Italy (Serbia win) | Spain vs. Canada (Spain win)

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Semi-Finals: Sydney

Saturday, Jan 11:

Q2 Winner vs. Q3 Winner
Q1 Winner vs. Q4 Winner

Prediction: Russia vs. Serbia (Serbia win) | Australia vs. Spain (Spain win)

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Final:

Sunday, Jan 12:

Predicted Final: Serbia vs. Spain (Serbia win)

Imagine Djokovic and Nadal facing off on the final day to ultimately determine the overall title. Being on hard court, Djokovic deserves favouritism and realistically he must win to ensure Serbia remains in the tie. Bautista Agut will be too strong for Dusan Lajovic, which would mean we would see the top two players likely going at it in the doubles, to determine the ATP Cup title.