ONE of the most unique tennis tournaments which features both ATP Tour and WTA Tour players is the Hopman Cup. Given the world circumstance and the fact it was already skipped on the eve of last year, it looks to be either delayed later in 2021, or perhaps at the turn of the New Year in 2022. However, in this new series we wanted to look at some hypothetical Hopman Cup teams and what they might look like if there was no COVID-19 pandemic, and if the famed mixed tournament did go ahead.

We start the series with hosts, Australia, and the team to have featured in all bar one event (30 of 31 years), the United States. We look at the likely teams, and the teams we would like to see.

Australia: Ash Barty & Nick Kyrgios

Australia has plenty of options on the ATP Tour now which would provide great varied choice for anyone who would love to step up. Nick Kyrgios has gone from zero to hero over the past 12 months in the eyes of the Australian pandemic and his commentary on calling out fellow tennis players’ wrongdoing. He might have divisive actions on-court, but there is no denying he could be the best in the world if he switched it on. It would also not be disappointing to see Australia’s top ranked player, Alex de Minaur take to the court on his beloved hard court, while John Millman‘s strongest surface is the hard court and would be a third option. Likely though we would end up with a lower ranked player such as Matt Ebden or perhaps the returning Thanasi Kokkinakis.

From the women’s perspective it would be hard not to see Ash Barty take up the choice again, playing only her second Hopman Cup tournament in 2019 after a six-year gap. In that time she went from teen sensation, to international cricketer and then world number one on the WTA Tour. There are less choices on the women’s side, though Daria Gavrilova was a regular here for a number of years. It would be great to even see a young Aussie get a shot if Barty is unavailable, like a Priscilla Hon or Maddison Inglis perhaps.

USA: Tommy Paul & Serena Williams

The hopeful United States team would not be too far fetched from being a reality, with one of the greatest of all-time in Serena Williams a regular at the event. Having won the event twice in 2003 and 2008, Williams could return as a good warm-up event to the Australian summer. It would come down to how much the 39-year-old could handle and what her work load would look like, but naturally she would be the first choice in terms of getting fans in the door. The rising young star in Sofia Kenin would also be an excellent choice, while teenager Amanda Anisimova could use the tournament as a good kick-starter to her year. The United States usually go big or go home, and if they eye off the title they load up on the star talent.

On the men’s side, Tommy Paul is the brightest talent the US have for the future. He is one that would go really well on the hard courts, though the 2019 competitor in Frances Tiafoe is arguably the next best choice. Paul provides the youth and teaming up with Kenin would be exciting for the future of American tennis. Jack Sock became a regular for a while playing three consecutive years, but the US have not won a Hopman Cup since 2011, which was their sixth title at the event.