- Mutua Madrid Open Schedule and Draws for Friday, April 26, 2024
- Tennis Balls Favorite Photographer and Producer Rob Stone Premieres THE Blue Angels IMAX Film!
- It’s a Girl! Belinda Bencic Welcomes Daughter to the World
- Nadal kicks off Mutua Madrid Open campaign with easy win over Blanch
- Mutua Madrid Open Schedule and Draws for Thursday, April 25, 2024
- Mutua Madrid Open Schedule and Draws for Wednesday, April 24, 2024
- Novak Djokovic Earns 5th Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award
- Mutua Madrid Open Schedule and Draws for Tuesday, April 23, 2024
- Rafael Nadal Commits to 2024 Laver Cup
- Mutua Madrid Open Schedule and Draws for Monday, April 22, 2024
- Casper Ruud Tops Stefanos Tsitsipas for Barcelona Title
- Former World No. 1 Garbiñe Muguruza Retires
- Fritz Flies Into First Clay-Court Final in Munich
- Munich Open Schedule and Draws for Sunday, April 21, 2024
- Home For Sale Minutes From The Indian Wells Tennis Gardens
Tennis • 10sBalls • Ricky’s Preview And Picks For Day 1 of The 2020 Inaugural ATP Cup
- Updated: January 1, 2020
By Ricky Dimon
The inaugural ATP Cup starts on Friday, and with it comes the beginning of the 2020 season and a new decade in tennis.
Although the 2019 Davis Cup took place a little more than a month ago, it is already time for another team competition. Twenty-four teams will battle for glory throughout Australia in Brisbane, Perth, and Sydney over a 10-day stretch. Among the countries in Day 1 action are host nation Australia, Germany, Italy, and Russia.
Ricky previews the Germany vs. Australia and Russia vs. Italy singles matches and makes his predictions.
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) vs. Nick Kyrgios (AUS)
The beginning of a new season and home-court advantage in Australia should be just what the doctor ordered for Kyrgios. Presumably he will be both healthy and motivated. Team competition generally brings out the best in the mercurial Aussie and he generally plays well Down Under. He also won’t have to grind through many baseline rallies against Struff.
Pick: Kyrgios in 2
Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. Alex de Minaur (AUS
Zverev surprisingly leads the head-to-head series 4-0. De Minaur, however, account himself extremely well in their only previous team matchup during 2018 Davis Cup action. The Australian pushed Zverev to five sets despite being in the extremely early stages of his career. With De Minaur coming off a strong finish to 2019 and playing at home, he should have an edge.
Pick: De Minaur in 3
Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs. Stefano Travaglia (ITA)
Khachanov took a minor step back in 2019, falling to 17th in the rankings. But he at least managed to play some decent tennis at the Davis Cup Finals, albeit going 1-3 in singles against tough competition. Travaglia is a mere 9-18 at the ATP level in his entire career and he has faced only three top-20 opponents (1-2 record with a win via retirement over Fabio Fognini).
Pick: Khachanov in 2
Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs. Fabio Fognini (ITA)
Medvedev clearly needed some rest at the end of his breakout 2019 campaign and he benefited from it in the form of an exhibition title in December, beating none other than Fognini in the final. The Italian’s offseason included the recent birth of his second child. Advantage: Medvedev.
Pick: Medvedev in 2
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.
🎾🎾🎾