Nadal, Djokovic, Thiem to return to ATP Cup

The ATP Cup nation-based team competition is set to come back for a second edition, Feb. 1-5. This year's tournament, played at Melbourne Park, will showcase 12 teams, as opposed to 2020's 18.

Qualification is determined by the country's highest-ranked singles player. So the United States, whose top men's player is John Isner at No. 25, isn't fielding a team.

Still, with every Top-15 star except for Roger Federer in attendance, the lineup is sure to impress. Here is the mix of established stars and role players joining the spotlight in just a few weeks:

1

Serbia

2

Spain

3

Austria, which features newly minted major champion Dominic Thiem, as well as Dennis Novak and doubles specialists Philipp Oswald and Tristan-Samuel Weissborn.

4

Russia, home of the dual threat of Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, plus Aslan Karatsev and Evgeny Dosnkoy.

5

Greece

6

Germany

7

Argentina

8

Italy

9

Japan, boasting both Kei Nishikori and Yoshihito Nishioka, in addition to doubles players Ben McLachlan and Toshihide Matsui.

10

France

11

Canada, loaded with Denis Shapovalov and Milos Raonic, plus Peter Polansky and Steven Diez.

WC

Australia

The inaugural event in 2020 saw Novak Djokovic's Serbia squad defeat Rafael Nadal's Spanish team in the final. With another blockbuster field, the tournament could once again be an exhilarating start to the season to come.