Preview: High Energy & Belief Fuel Canada, Russia For ATP Cup Semi-finals
Superstar power makes a big difference in the fortunes of a team at the ATP Cup, but the greatest characteristic of success is how closely the players bond. Novak’s Djokovic’s Serbia won the inaugural edition in 2020, while Russia’s heavyweights Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, with the help of “secret weapon” Aslan Karatsev, secured the silverware last year.
On Saturday afternoon, two teams that have united so well this week, Canada and defending champion Russia, square-off on Ken Rosewall Arena for a place in the final.
For Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is combining playing and captain duties for Canada this week, there is real belief. The World No. 11 has highlighted in his wins over Great Britain’s Daniel Evans and his 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Alexander Zverev of Germany on Thursday, how much he is relishing the atmosphere of the teams’ event.
The 21-year-old now meets his sometime practice partner, Medvedev, for the third time. “We’re going to try to keep that momentum going,” said Auger-Aliassime. “The spirit was really high in the locker room after.”
Auger-Aliassime is already formulating a plan for Medvedev, having lost to the Russian 3-6, 6-4 7-6(7) at Toronto in August 2018 and 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in the US Open semi-finals in September 2021. “We played twice now,” said Auger-Aliassime. “He just does everything really well. As much as he defends really well and makes you play an extra ball, he’s very agile and has a good hand. He also serves really good. So he can get quick points on his serve and then make you work on the return.
“I would say he’s the modern complete player. But I’m going to try to find a way to get him out of his comfort zone and what he likes. It’s going to be a fight. There’s no secret. Sometimes you just have to give the effort, dig deep physically and mentally, and I’m going to have to do that Saturday if I want to give myself a chance.”
While Medvedev gets more plaudits, the biggest surprise for Russia has been Roman Safiullin’s ability to raise his game in his No. 2 singles matches against France’s Arthur Rinderknech, James Duckworth of Australia and Italy’s Jannik Sinner. World No. 14 Shapovalov will rightly be cautious in his preparations.
As a junior, Safiullin beat Medvedev, Rublev and Karen Khachanov, but life as a professional has been harder since capturing the 2015 Australian Open junior crown. He didn’t expect to compete at the ATP Cup, but with the withdrawals of Rublev and Karatsev, Safiullin stepped up. In recent days, the 24-year-old has experienced several ‘pinch me’ moments.
“Now I’m super happy that I could bring two points in singles and help in the doubles,” said Safiullin, following victory over Italy on Thursday. “I was thinking about it [on court]… that I’m standing here and nearby is Top 10 players, three guys. One is [No.] 2, one is [No.] 6 or 7, another one is [No.] 10, and I’m like [No.] 170.
It’s a great feeling, but I showed my best tennis, and hopefully [my ATP] Ranking will be improving and maybe one day I will be also with these guys [on the] same court [and] position, Top 10. This [tournament] gives [me] a lot of confidence, especially [the] first two wins… It’s absolutely giving me more confidence to work more and to improve.”
The way too that Russia’s captain Gilles Cervara, Alexander Shevchenko and Evgeny Karlovskiy have supported in the Team Zone has played a big part in keeping the courtside energy high for the defending champion.
“You feel that the team is behind you,” said Medvedev, who is 10-2 in singles play at the ATP Cup. “There are two tournaments in the year where, you feel that they are really for you, because let’s say I watch Andrey or any Russian player on the [ATP] Tour, you want them to win, but you’re not going to be in front of TV or standing up every point screaming, ‘Come on’. Here you do. That’s what is fun. That’s why I had a lot of fun on the court.”
Shapovalov, who will begin the ATP Cup semi-final against Safiullin, is looking forward to meeting Russia. “I think it’s super exciting,” said Shapovalov, who helped Canada to the 2020 ATP Cup quarter-finals. “I think we’ve got good chances. Obviously, Russia is playing really well. They have got Daniil Medvedev, one of best players in the world, so it’s going to be tough. But I believe in us.
“The way Felix played, he beat Zverev, who is probably one of the best players in the world right now, and I think he can take [on] anyone. And together in doubles, as well, I think we have really good chances. So we definitely have a good, good team.”
Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta await Canada or Russia in Sunday’s final.