Since 2020, it has been the unofficial start of the season on the men's circuit and for the third edition, the Covid has forced the organizers to organize their event.

Originally scheduled to pit 24 countries against each other, the ATP Cup saw that number reduced to 12 last year in Melbourne due to the pandemic, a figure increased to 16 this year.

But there will not be in Sydney the Russian Andrey Rublev (5th in the world), the Spaniard Rafael Nadal (N.6) or the Canadian Denis Shapovalov (N.14), forced to withdraw after having tested positive in Covid, for the last upon arrival in Australia.

The world No.1 Novak Djokovic chose to ignore the tournament, further fueling the rumors of a forfeit for the Australian Open of which he is however the three-time defending champion and where he could beat the record for Grand Slam titles.

To allow entry into Australia, authorities require foreign travelers to be vaccinated, but the Serbian has taken anti-vaccine positions in the past and maintains doubts about his vaccination status.

Another notable withdrawal, that of Dominic Thiem (N.15) who, combined with that of his compatriot Dennis Novak, led Austria to forfeit and to the last minute repechage from France.

Russia as a favorite

The Blues will line up in an unprecedented configuration, with Ugo Humbert (N.35) as the leader, supported by Arthur Rinderknech (N.58), Edouard Roger-Vasselin (N.42 in doubles) and Fabrice Martin (N. 27 in duplicate).

The Russian team, defending champion after their victory over Italy in Melbourne on February 7, 2021, is the favorite William WEST AFP / Archives

In the absence of Djokovic and several top 10 players, defending champions Russia are favorites to their own succession.

But the Russians will have to count on Germany from world No.3 Alexander Zverev and Greece from world No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, supported by the boiling Greek community in Sydney.

"I have every confidence in my team, representing Greece for us at this level means a lot," Tsitsipas warned.

"We Greeks excel in team events as we show in football and basketball, it's in our DNA, we like to play this kind of event, that's where we give our best same ", he assured.

Other players ranked in the world top 20 include the Norwegian Casper Ruud (N.8), the Polish Hubert Hurkacz (N.9), the Italians Matteo Berrettini (N.7) and Jannik Sinner (N.10) or the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (N.11).

Also watch out for Spain, certainly without Nadal but with Roberto Bautista (N.19) and Pablo Carreno Busta (N.20), which could create a surprise.

"In this competition, given its formula, it is important to have a good team with a good N.2, N.3 and N.4, not just a good N.1", recalled Carreno Busta who had allowed Spain to reach the final with Nadal in 2020 before losing to Djokovic's Serbia.

The members of the France team in group C of the last ATP Cup in Melbourne, February 5, 2021 Paul CROCK AFP / Archives

Another era for tennis, before the Covid ...

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The groups

Group A: Serbia, Norway, Chile, Spain

Group B: Russia, France, Italy, Australia

Group C: Germany, Canada, Great Britain, United States

Group D: Greece, Poland, Argentina, Georgia

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Calendar

Group stage, until January 6

1st semi-final: winner of group A against winner of group D, January 7

2nd semi-final: winner of group B against winner of group C, January 8

Final on January 9

© 2021 AFP