Tsitsipas-Led Greece Enters The ATP Cup Standings

With only two months to go until the first qualification deadline, a new nation has emerged in the competition for one of the 24 coveted spots in the inaugural ATP Cup. World No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Greece has entered the standings for the first time, sitting in seventh place.

A minimum of three ATP ranked players, including two members with singles ATP Ranking points, are required for a country to be eligible to qualify. So when the previously unranked Michail Pervolarakis reached the third round of the Winnetka Challenger last week to earn seven points, that helped Greece fulfil those requirements, adding the nation into a place of strong contention.

On 13 September, the Top 18 countries will qualify, and two months later, on 13 November, the remaining six countries will book their spots at the team event, to be held 3-12 January in Australia.

View ATP Cup Standings

While there was not much movement in the standings after Wimbledon, players from two countries showed why their nations may reign supreme in Australia next year.

Rafael Nadal and Roberto Bautista Agut both represented Spain in the semi-finals at The Championships. Nadal, a two-time champion, advanced to the last four at Wimbledon for the seventh time, and Bautista Agut reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time. Spain remains in second place.

Although no Russian man made the second week at the grass-court major, the ninth-placed nation has something that no other country does: two players in the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings. Daniil Medvedev cracked the elite group for the first time on Monday, and Karen Khachanov ascended to a career-high No. 8.

Further down the standings, at No. 18, Australia is clinging to the first-deadline’s final qualification spot. The country, led by Alex de Minaur, has 1,285 points, but Cristian Garin-led Chile, with 1,234 points, is only 51 points behind. If Australia does not earn a qualification spot, it will receive a wild card.

The 24-team event will feature US$15 million prize money and a maximum of 750 singles and 250 doubles ATP Rankings points. On-court coaching will be allowed during changeovers and set breaks.

The group stages of the ATP Cup will be hosted across three Australian cities – Sydney, Brisbane and Perth – over six days. Immediately following the group stages will be the four-day knockout stage – quarter-finals over two days, semi-finals and final – all to be played on the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.