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ATP Cup 2021 FAQ

What is the ATP Cup?
The 2021 ATP Cup is a 12-country team competition with a base-level prize money of 7.5 million USD*. A player can earn a maximum of 500 singles and 250 doubles FedEx ATP Rankings points. The ATP Cup is staged in partnership with Tennis Australia. (*Subject to any reductions based on permitted attendance)

When and where will it be played?
The 2021 ATP Cup will be played from 1-5 February. The five-day tournament (Monday-Friday) will take place at Melbourne Park alongside two ATP 250 events. Those three events will occupy Week 5 of the ATP Calendar, the week prior to the Australian Open.

How does the tournament work?
The 12 teams are divided into four groups of three for group stage, round-robin play. The winners of each group emerge to contest the knock-out stages, with the four remaining teams playing the semi-finals.

What is the format?
Each tie will be comprised of two singles matches and one doubles match. The country that wins two matches will win the tie. Every country will be guaranteed to play two ties in the group stages. Singles will be best-of-three tie-break sets. Doubles will feature No-Ad scoring and a Match Tie-break in lieu of a third set.

What is the order of play?
There is a day session and an evening session each day. The No. 2 players will play first in each tie, followed by the No. 1 players, with the doubles to follow. All doubles matches will be played regardless of whether the tie is decided after the two singles matches except if the final is decided after the two singles matches. In that event, the doubles will not be played.

How does a country qualify for the ATP Cup and which of its players get to play?
A minimum of three ATP-ranked players, including two members with singles FedEx ATP Rankings points, are required for a country to be eligible to qualify. A country may have up to four players.

How do entries work?
The Top 11 countries in the ATP Cup Standings gain acceptance into the event based on the singles FedEx ATP Ranking and entry of the country’s No. 1 singles player at the entry deadline. Host country Australia is granted a wild card into the event to make up the 12-team field.

Rankings to be used for entries are the FedEx ATP Rankings. A Protected Ranking can be used to enter provided the player’s Protected Ranking is valid through the entry deadline. Protected Ranking will not be used for team seeding.

What are the ATP Cup Standings?
The ATP Cup Standings is a provisional entry list for the ATP Cup, ordered by the FedEx ATP Ranking (or Protected Ranking) of a country’s highest-ranked singles player. ATP Cup Standings also show which players within each country would qualify for a place in their country’s team, subject to player entry rules.

When will the draw and seeding be made?
The draw is scheduled to take place on 20 January 2021.

Will a Team Captain be assigned?
Each team will have a captain, selected by the No. 1 singles player in consultation with their team members. The No. 1 singles player will be the captain should one not be selected. The captain must meet one of the following criteria: be a Division I ATP player member, an ATP coach member or a qualified coach of a national federation. If a captain is requested that does not fulfill either criteria requirement, a request for an exemption can be made. In 2021, due to the extraordinary circumstances related to COVID-19, the No. 1 singles player may request, subject to ATP approval, to appoint a captain of a different nationality.

Is on-court coaching allowed?
Yes. Coaching will be permitted by the team captain, the competing player’s individual coach or fellow player team members. Coaching advice is not limited to changeovers and set breaks, but it shall not interfere with the speed of play.

Can a player play singles and doubles?
Yes. The team captain decides who plays doubles. The on-site FedEx ATP Ranking order must be respected for singles matches. For example, the No. 1-ranked player on a team based on on-site FedEx ATP Rankings at the start of the competition cannot play No. 2 singles. Protected Ranking will be considered the official ranking for line-up position.

POINTS & RANKING

What is the maximum number of points a player can earn?
Singles: An undefeated player who plays and wins all possible singles matches could earn 500 FedEx ATP Rankings points.
Doubles: An undefeated player who plays and wins all possible doubles matches will earn 250 FedEx ATP Doubles Rankings points.

Who can earn points at this event?
All players who compete will have the opportunity to earn FedEx ATP Rankings points and prize money.

How will the points for each player be awarded in a team competition?
Singles: FedEx ATP Rankings points are awarded for a match win in each round. The amount of ranking points awarded depends on the ranking of the player, the ranking of the opponent and the round of the result.
Doubles: FedEx ATP Doubles Rankings points are awarded for a match win in each round. The amount of ranking points awarded does not depend on the ranking of the opponents.

How will the ATP Cup points work in a player’s FedEx ATP Ranking?
ATP Cup will be included in the player’s Rankings Breakdown as one of his best 19 results.

How much is the prize money?
Base-level prize money of ATP Cup is $7.5 million before any reductions based on permitted attendance are applied. There are three different components of total prize money awarded to players, including a participation fee, prize money for individual match wins and prize money for tie victories.

FedEx ATP Rankings Points

Singles

Maximum 500 points for undefeated player 

Ranking as of Monday 25 January 2021

Singles Player Ranked 251+

Doubles

Maximum 250 points for undefeated player

*All the above information is subject to change by the ATP rules and regulations.

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Djokovic, Nadal Lead Field For 2021 ATP Cup

The field is set for the 2021 ATP Cup, to be held from 1-5 February in Melbourne. Twelve countries will battle for the prestigious team trophy, with 2020 finalists Serbia and Spain leading the way.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and World No. 2 Rafael Nadal headline the event as the top-ranked singles players for Serbia and Spain, respectively. In 2020, Serbia defeated Spain 2-1 in a thrilling championship clash, which included a tantalising match-up between Djokovic and Nadal.

Reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Daniil Medvedev headlines Russia’s team alongside fellow Top 10 star Andrey Rublev, and World No. 3 Dominic Thiem will try to take Austria to glory. The 2021 ATP Cup will feature 14 of the Top 15 players in the FedEx ATP Rankings. Each team will consist of four players per country.

Qualification for the 2021 ATP Cup is based on the FedEx ATP Ranking of each country’s top-ranked singles player, while Australia qualifies by virtue of a host wild card. Alex de Minaur, who earned two Top 15 wins at last year’s inaugural ATP Cup, will once again lead the way for Australia.

ATP Cup Managing Director Ross Hutchins said: “Playing as a team, for one’s country, is a rare privilege in tennis which brings the best out of our players. This was highlighted by the incredible matches and camaraderie on display at last year’s inaugural ATP Cup. We would like to thank our partners, Tennis Australia, for their dedication and commitment to staging this year’s tournament, which promises to deliver a strong start to the new 2021 season. We cannot wait for tennis fans around the world to again share in the excitement and energy of this special event.”

ATP Cup Tournament Director Tom Larner said: “Last year we launched the global tennis season with the inaugural ATP Cup. It was a huge success with both players and fans, and we are excited to present the second edition in Melbourne in 2021. The players are looking forward to stepping up and representing their countries again, and the field, including defending champions Serbia and finalists Spain, is strong. This is a format that shows off the passion of the players and we’re expecting some spectacular tennis action.”

This year’s ATP Cup will take place at Melbourne Park alongside two ATP 250 events, with the three tournaments being held the week before the Australian Open. The draw will take place on 20 January, when the 12 teams will be divided into four groups of three for group stage, round-robin play. The four group winners will advance to the semi-finals.

More information on ATP Cup tickets will be released in due course.

Follow the latest ATP Cup news and live updates at ATPCup.com and on Twitter and Instagram.

LIST OF QUALIFIED COUNTRIES AND COMMITTED PLAYERS

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Kyrgios, Opelka Lead Players To Watch In 2021

ATPTour.com has looked at some of the biggest storylines ahead of the 2021 season, with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal chasing history and ascendant stars Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev chasing them. We have also examined some #NextGenATP stars who are ready to shine under the spotlight.

But who else should you keep your eyes on in the upcoming season? We look at five players outside the Top 30 of the FedEx ATP Rankings who could make an impact in 2021.

Read More 2021 Season Preview Stories

Nick Kyrgios
Dynamic Australian Nick Kyrgios has not played since the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in February, opting to remain home after tennis returned in August following a five-month suspension of play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But a rested Kyrgios — both physically and mentally — should prove a dangerous one in 2021. The six-time ATP Tour titlist has the ability to beat anyone on his day — he has a 2-0 ATP Head2Head record against World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and three wins from eight tries against 35-time ATP Masters 1000 titlist Rafael Nadal. As players look to find their footing early, if Kyrgios is able to overcome his long period without competitive tennis, he’ll put plenty of pressure on his opponents.

On paper, Kyrgios is the No. 45 player in the FedEx ATP Rankings. But keep in mind he only played nine matches in 2020. In those matches, the big-hitting righty found good form. Kyrgios earned wins in two of the best matches of the year. He battled past Stefanos Tsitsipas in an emotional tilt at the ATP Cup, in which nobody broke serve, leading to three tie-breaks. At the Australian Open, Kyrgios outlasted powerful Russian Karen Khachanov after four hours and 26 minutes.

One of Nick’s losses was a tight four-setter against Nadal in Melbourne. But any close defeat against Nadal is nothing to be ashamed of. Kyrgios will be hungry for more in 2021.

Reilly Opelka
There are few players on the ATP Tour as dangerous as Reilly Opelka. The American has won a tour-level title in each of the past two seasons, and now he’s ready to begin his push for more success at ATP Masters 1000 and Grand Slam events.

The 23-year-old has shown his potential. Case in point: last year’s Western & Southern Open. At that Masters 1000 event, Opelka dismissed Cameron Norrie, Diego Schwartzman and Matteo Berrettini in straight sets to reach his first quarter-final at the level. The 6’11” righty only lost a combined 10 first-serve points against Schwartzman and Berrettini, Nitto ATP Finals competitors in 2020 and 2019, respectively. He actually hit Berrettini with a serve on match point to end that match.

Opelka might be known for his booming serve, but he is deceptively fleet afoot. His two-handed backhand is also a steady tool in the American’s game. The World No. 39 is capable of taking the racquet out of any opponent’s hand. So what is his key for reaching his very best? Opelka has been focussing on his body.

“I have to get stronger so I can last an entire season and last for Grand Slams, and recover better in between matches and my body can hold on for an entire year,” Opelka said. “That way I can play each week at close to 100 per cent. I know it’s not realistic to be perfect, feeling great all the time, but [getting] as close as I can… that is my main goal.”

Daniel Evans
Daniil Medvedev’s strokes are unorthodox, and they helped take him to titles at the Nitto ATP Finals and the Rolex Paris Masters in 2020. Could another unorthodox game ascend towards the top of the sport in 2021? Daniel Evans hopes so.

The British No. 1 has a different arsenal of weapons then Medvedev. Instead of grinding down opponents with relentless defence and flat groundstrokes, Evans uses a wide variety of spins to create openings and drive opponents crazy. Armed with a one-handed backhand, he almost always hits a low, biting slice off that wing, baiting opponents into going for too much or changing the pace of rallies to open new opportunities in the point.

The 30-year-old earned seven victories against Top 20 players in 2020 and climbed to a career-high No. 28 in the FedEx ATP Rankings in March. Evans is only adding more experience against the world’s best. And if anyone is off their game, Evans is exceptional at keeping them from finding their top level.

Alexander Bublik
Do not blink if you’re watching Alexander Bublik play tennis in 2021, or ever for that matter. The Kazakhstani is one of the most entertaining players on the ATP Tour. Look away for a second, and you might miss an underarm serve, an out-of-the blue winner and more.

Bublik is not all show, though. He is a dangerous player who reached a career-best No. 47 in February 2020 and is currently World No. 50. The 23-year-old earned his first Top 10 victory last year against home favourite Gael Monfils at Roland Garros.

The two-time ATP Tour finalist is unpredictable, and he loves playing in the tightest moments. Bublik ranks 17th in the past 52 weeks on the ATP’s Under Pressure Leaderboard, which combines break points saved, break points converted, as well as performance in tie-breaks and deciding sets.

“I like this feeling when it’s 50-50. When I’m serving full power on a second serve at deuce, I feel fear. I feel the game, I feel nice,” Bublik said. “When I hit that ace in the third-set tie-break at five-all on a second serve, I have an adrenaline boost in my body and it’s awesome… That’s the kind of person I am.”

Kevin Anderson
Two-time Grand Slam finalist and former World No. 5 Kevin Anderson was a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year in the 2020 ATP Awards. In 2019, he struggled with elbow and knee injuries, then he had knee surgery in February 2020.

But despite falling as low as No. 147 in the FedEx ATP Rankings in 2020, the South African showed signs of a resurgence near year’s end. Anderson reached the third round at Roland Garros and then made his lone semi-final of the season at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. At that ATP 500, the 34-year-old beat Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta and Russian Daniil Medvedev in straight sets. Medvedev did not lose the rest of the year, claiming the title at the Rolex Paris Masters and the Nitto ATP Finals.

If Anderson is able to stay healthy in 2021, he’ll continue to build his confidence. And at full strength, there is little doubt that the 2018 Nitto ATP Finals competitor has the firepower and mental fortitude to compete with some of the best players in the sport. Still motivated to push for big titles, Anderson remains as hungry as ever to make his mark.

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Jamie Murray undecided about competing at Tokyo Olympics

Jamie Murray says he is undecided about competing at his fourth Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer

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