Greece set to compete at inaugural ATP Cup

AGONAsport’s Andrew Stamas previews the 2020 ATP Cup, where Greece will compete against Australia, Canada, and Germany in Brisbane, Australia.

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The new team competition, featuring teams from 24 countries, will take place from January 3-12 throughout three Australian cities (Brisbane, Perth, and Sydney). The 24 teams have been split into six groups of four. The six group winners, as well as the two best second-placed teams, will then advance to the Final Eight, which will be played in Sydney. Greece has been drawn into Group F along with Australia, Canada, and Germany. All Group F matches will be held in Brisbane.

Each tie will feature two singles rubbers, and one doubles rubber. Greece will face Canada on January 3, Germany, on January 5, and then Australia on January 7. 

Leading the way for Team Greece is world number six Stefanos Tsitsipas. Michail Pervolarakis (world number 487) and Markos Kalovelonis (world number 747) are also expected to play big roles in Greece’s matches. Lastly, 19-year-olds Alexandros Skorilas (world number 1170) and Petros Tsitsipas (world number 1415) are also on Greece’s roster.

Things will kick off on January 3, where Greece will take on Canada at 10:00 AM local time (2:00 AM Greece time). Pervolarakis will be a massive underdog in the opening rubber against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, the world number 21. Then, Tsitsipas will take on Canadian Denis Shapovalov (world number 15). Shapovalov leads the head-to-head 2-1, but the two have not played against each other in over nine months. The Canadians will be the favorites to prevail in the doubles rubber, but an inspired Greek team can potentially pull off the upset.

Greece will then face Germany on January 5 at 5:30 PM local time (9:30 AM Greece time). Pervolarakis will once again be a massive underdog, this time against world number 35 Jan-Lennard Struff. Afterwards, Tsitsipas will face world number seven Alexander Zverev. Tsitsipas holds a 4-1 head-to-head record against Zverev, having won each of the last four meetings against him. In the doubles rubber, Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies will be overwhelming favorites to win, as they are one of the top doubles teams in the world.

Greece will conclude group play against hosts Australia on January 7 at 5:30 PM local time (9:30 AM Greece time). Pervolarakis will have a tough task on his hands against world number 30 Nick Kyrgios. Tsitsipas will then play against world number 18 Alex de Minaur, who Tsitsipas holds a 3-0 head-to-head record against. Finally, the Australians will be the favorites to prevail in the subsequent doubles rubber.

Although the Greeks are expected to lose all three ties, stranger things have happened. Tsitsipas is the favorite to win all three of his singles rubbers, and if he can do so, a couple of upset wins in the other rubbers could see Greece advance to the quarterfinals.

by Andrew Stamas

Image Source: to10.gr

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