Russia has ceased to be a dream team: covid will not allow to defend the title at the ATP Cup
The Russian team wrestles at the first tennis tournament of the season on January 2. At the ATP Cup, which is held in the group by Australia, France and Italy, they do not look like favorites this time. MK-Sport tells what to expect from the upcoming tournament.
A week ago, everything was different. The Russian team, with the same lineup that will win the Davis Cup in early December, must begin to smash everyone who stands in its way on the courts of the ATP Cup. Just like a year ago when Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Aslan Karatsev and Evgeniy Donskoy became champions. But the coronavirus has confused all plans.
First, Rublev, the second number of our team, who returned from the tournament in Abu Dhabi, where half of the participants became infected, found out about the positive test. It quickly became known that Karatsev and Donskoy also fell ill. The participation of the Russian team in the ATP Cup was in jeopardy.
Who replaced Karen Khachanov and why won’t he come?
Instead of Rublev, a 24-year-old was added to the team Roman Safiullin (167 number of the ATP rating), instead of Karatsev – 27-year-old Evgeny Karlovsky (269). Both are tournament debutants.
Coach Medvedev was appointed captain instead of Donskoy Gilles Servard… It would have been more time, probably worth trying to summon the captains again Marata Safinaas it was two years ago. But the times of the pandemic and Australia’s strict entry regulations have definitely prevented this from happening in a short time. So whoever was close at hand in Australia, so the team was formed.
Karen Khachanov could become a full-fledged number two for the national team, and he is already in Australia with a pure PCR test. But Karen was not originally going to play in the ATP Cup and showed up for another tournament in the Australian series. It was hoped that, due to force majeure circumstances, the ATP would allow a tennis player to be transferred from one tournament to another, but according to the President of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishcheva, the association makes no exceptions for anyone.
Who will the Russian team play with?
In the group with Russia – Australia, Italy and France.
The Australians received a wild card from the organizers, but they have quite an efficient roster. The first number is Alex de Minaur (34th rating number), second – James Duckworth (49) as well as highly ranked doubles John Pierce and Luke Saville.
The French replaced the Austrian national team, which was forced to withdraw from participation due to the lack of Dominica Tim… Not long ago, the best Austrian athlete and winner of the Grand Slam tournaments missed most of last season because he refused to go to the ATP Cup. The second worthy candidate for the place of the first number of the team in Austria was not found.
As part of the French Hugo Humbert (35th rating number), Arthur Rinderknech (58), Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Fabrice Martin – highly quoted greenhouses.
But it is the Italians who are the favorites of the group this time. They have two players from the top 10 at once. This is a healed abdominal injury Matteo Berrettini and young talent Yannick Sinner. Two more – Lorenzo Sonego and Fabio Fognini – are in the top 40, and have a cool doubles player Simone Bolelli, together with Fognini, winning doubles at the 2015 Australian Open. In other words, Italy is a reinforced concrete favorite.
But why does Russia have no chance if we have Medvedev?
Danya, of course, is the main star and the first racket of this tournament, because Novak Djokovic refused to participate. But the key to success in a team tournament is an even squad, and not one tough player. Djokovic, for example, did not drag his national team to the final last year at the ATP Cup, and a month ago at the Davis Cup.
Or two very good singles, or one singles and a quality played pair. We have only one Medvedev. He, of course, is able to beat any first number in another team, but all second numbers are higher than Roman Safiullin.
But Dani had words of support for the guys. “Of course, Roman Safiullin will be an outsider in every match. However, he has great potential, and the absence of additional pressure will only benefit. The ATP Cup is a great opportunity for these guys. You can gain confidence and warm up for the season. I am confident in all of our guys. Let’s hope that we will win the title again, ”he said to the press service of the tournament.
It’s a shame that literally a few days were not enough for us. Denis Shapovalov, who passed a positive test upon arrival in Australia, has already come out of quarantine and started training. Rafael Nadal, infected there, he was also released and even managed to fly to Melbourne.
Rublev, Karatsev and Donskoy have practically no symptoms and, most likely, will also come out of isolation in the coming days. But the ATP Cup starts on the night of January 1. The coronavirus severely spoiled the start of the season for Russian tennis players, but there is still a whole year ahead, for which we have high hopes.
Schedule of the Russian national team for the ATP Cup
Russia – France – on the night of January 2
Russia – Australia – on the night of January 4
Russia – Italy – on the night of January 6
According to the rules, in the first match of the playing day, the second numbers of the teams are first encountered, then the first, and then the pairs go to the court.