Best ATP Cup Quotes: Djokovic, Nishkori & Anderson Sound Off

With less than three weeks until the start of the 2020 season, the world’s best players are hard at work preparing for the inaugural ATP Cup, held in Australia from 3-12 January. Twenty-four countries will participate in round-robin action in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane from 3-8 January, with the Final Eight facing off in Sydney from 9-12 January.

ATPTour.com takes a look at the best quotes about the ATP Cup from your favourite players looking to lead their country to the title.

Novak Djokovic: “I like that it’s owned by the ATP, by the players, and that we have [ATP Rankings] points. It’s going to be the best way to kick off the season. Australia is a country… that nurtures tennis tradition. More than 90 per cent of the time, we’re playing as individuals and we don’t have too many team events. This is going to bring together a lot of nations and, for me personally, it will be a very nice and proud moment to represent my country. An event like this is truly going to make an impact.”

John Isner: “You’re playing for your country, which is the greatest honour you can have. It’s the perfect week for it as well, at the beginning of the year. Everybody wants to be in tip-top shape for the Australian Open and this event is going to allow us to do that.”

Kevin Anderson: “We’re really excited about the ATP Cup… Tennis Australia was very keen on this. They worked closely with us [and] it was in partnership with them… We’re going to have the best players in the world playing. We’re going to kick off our year with an amazing event.”

Karen Khachanov: “I think it will be great for all the players to start the season in Australia [and] to feel the conditions.”

Marin Cilic: “I think it’s going to be great for all the fans in the world, for media, for TV [and] for players.”

Kei Nishikori: “I think it’s good to have all the teams together and all the countries together. I think everybody enjoys [playing for] their country.”

Alex de Minaur: “Growing up, that’s always been my dream: to be able to represent the green and gold.”

Nick Kyrgios: “For a chance to play with the boys I grew up with, like Thanasi Kokkinakis and Jordan Thompson, it’s something I’m really looking forward to. And now to see Alex [de Minaur] do so well, it’s going to be an awesome event. I know everyone on the Tour wants to be with their teammates. There’s nothing better than playing for your country against the other best players in the world.”

Jamie Murray: “I’m excited about the ATP Cup. I think it’s going to be a great event for the ATP. It’s a players’ event. We’ve been on the [ATP Player] Council for the past three years, working to try to make it happen. It’s obviously come to fruition now. It’s a great way to kick off the year. It’s a great week for getting the top guys committed to playing the event because everyone wants to play at the start of the year in the lead up to the Australian Open. I think it’s going to be a huge success.”

Bruno Soares: “I think for the ATP and the players, it’s amazing to have this event in the beginning of the year. It’s a new concept. It’s great.”

Denis Shapovalov: “From the moment I picked up a racquet, I was always watching team events like this. I’ve always wanted to represent my country in a team environment. It’s a different kind of atmosphere and a different kind of competition.”

Daniel Evans: “It’s not hard to get up for matches in front of thousands of people. It gives you confidence being on court and I’ve always felt that when I’ve represented Great Britain, it’s a reward for the hard work I’ve put in and the matches I’ve won.”